Read:
Do you know God, or do you just know a lot about him?
Think about a kid obsessed with his favorite basketball player. He knows the stats and the backstory—but he's never actually met him. He knows about him.
Plenty of people have that exact relationship with God. They know the Bible stories and can quote a few verses. Some have been around church their whole lives. But knowing about someone and actually knowing them are two different things.
Jesus put it plainly in John 17:3: "And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth" (John 17:3, NLT). Notice the word he uses. Not know about. Know. Eternal life is wrapped up in actually knowing God.
So how do you get there? The same way any relationship grows. You spend time with God. You talk to him instead of just about him, and you listen to what he says. So start simple today. Talk to God like he's in the room, and tell him one honest thing about your day.
Reflect: When you talk to God, does it sound more like talking about him or talking to him?