Knowing Him Is the Answer
“The journey isn’t about effort—it’s about abiding in the One who carries us forward.”
John 14:6 — “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
Inspired by Knowing God in Christ by T. Austin-Sparks
Photo Credit: Unsplash
T. Austin-Sparks speaks straight to the restless heart—the one that’s striving, searching, and stretching toward a deeper spiritual life, only to find itself weary and fruitless. His message is not an invitation to do more, but to know Christ more. Sparks reminds us that our longing for spiritual fullness will never be satisfied by technique, discipline, or intensity. The Lord gently redirects our gaze: “I am the way.”
We often come to Him asking for more fruit, for greater spiritual effectiveness, for evidence that our lives are pleasing to God. And while those desires are noble, we may not realize that we’re asking for the results apart from the source. Jesus says simply: “I am the Vine.” Fruit doesn’t grow by effort—it grows by life. And that life flows naturally through the branches that abide in Him.
This rest Sparks writes of isn’t passive indifference or resignation. It is restful fellowship. It is the peace of union with Christ. It’s not a letting go into emptiness but a letting go into Someone—into the One who is the fullness of God and who dwells in us.
He doesn’t tell us to stop longing for fruit or fullness—He shows us the true way to it: abiding in Him. Not reaching for the mountaintop by our own grip, but simply waking to the reality that we are already seated with Him in heavenly places. The answer to every longing is not a “what” or a “how,” but a “Who.” And He says to us: “Have Me, and you have everything.”
Personalized Journal Entry — In the Holy Spirit’s Voice Through Scripture
You don’t have to search the horizon for what you already possess. I am your way—your path is not a mystery, for you walk with Me. I am your truth—you no longer need to strain for clarity, for the Word abides in you. I am your life—every breath drawn in faith is drawn from My fullness.
You long for spiritual fruit, and rightly so. But remember: you are not the source of life. I chose you and appointed you to bear fruit, fruit that remains. Apart from Me, you can do nothing—but you are not apart. You are in Me. And as surely as branches draw from the vine, so your life flows with Mine.
Stop laboring under the weight of spiritual outcomes. Rest in Me. I am the one who works in you both to will and to do. I will complete the good work I began in you. You don’t need to generate peace, joy, or wisdom—they are already yours in Me. Abide, and they emerge.
Don’t confuse strain with growth. Branches do not groan. They remain. You are joined to Me by My doing, not yours. I will cause you to bear much fruit, not by your effort, but by My presence. Know Me—and you will know rest.
I have already blessed you with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. I have given you all things that pertain to life and godliness. You are complete in Me. Let your striving cease, not because your desire is too much, but because I am more than enough.
Let your heart come home.
(John 14:6, John 15:5, John 15:16, Philippians 2:13, Philippians 1:6, Ephesians 1:3, 2 Peter 1:3, Colossians 2:10)
Prayer
Father, thank You that I don’t need to search beyond what You’ve already given. You’ve placed me in Christ, and that alone is the answer to every longing I’ve carried. I no longer chase fruit—I abide in the One who bears it through me. I no longer exhaust myself reaching for fullness—I rest in the One who is fullness.
I trust that Your life in me is enough. I trust that abiding is not inactivity but fellowship. You have joined me to Yourself, not in theory, but in experience. Christ is my life. And I rejoice in that quiet miracle.
Amen.
Devotional Credit: Knowing God in Christ by T. Austin-Sparks
Photo Credit: Unsplash.com
Original Entry as posted in Don Biro’s Blog:
The following is from T. Austin-Sparks' book Knowing God in Christ:
"Is it that we are seeking fulness of attainment, reaching out to attain to the fullest, to the whole thought of God? Oh, how many ways we have of seeking to realise that heart desire for full attainment. We pray this way and that, and for many things which we think will bring us into fulness. The Lord will answer, 'I am the way, the truth and the life.' 'Have Me and you have got everything.'
"Do we want to escape from barrenness and fruitlessness of life, to come to the place where life will have something to show for God's satisfaction; not emptiness and barrenness but fruitfulness of that kind which will give Him pleasure? How are you seeking to be fruitful, by what means? You ask the Lord in many ways about fruit-bearing, He will answer, 'I am the Vine.' You cannot bear fruit unless you are in the fruit-bearing Vine, and if you abide in Him, you will bear fruit. It is as natural and spontaneous as anything can be; it is a question of knowing abiding union with Him. It is a matter of knowing Him.
"All these things should bring to us heart rest. I have not been the least of those who have striven, and agonised, and strained, and pressed and reached out for all that the Lord would have, all that is possible. It is possible to wear yourself right out, and kill yourself in a spiritual quest, and the Lord at last says to our hearts: "If you only know Me, things will happen; it will all come to pass without any of your strain, struggle and agony. I am going to bear this fruit. I will bear it through you by way of union and fellowship. Remember that the holy, blessed secret of fellowship is just resting in Me, abiding in Me.'
"If you saw all the branches of the vine every day groaning and agonising, and writhing in order to bear their fruit, you would see something which is altogether unnatural. As a matter of fact you will see nothing of the kind. You will see them abiding there and bearing fruit. It is what we often speak of as the rest of faith.
"What is behind the rest of faith? It is not bringing yourself to a passive state, when you inwardly sink down and say, I am just going to rest. It is knowing the Lord, God in Christ; for the way in which God has joined Himself to us is in Christ, not apart, and the way in which we have been joined to God is in Christ, not apart. The answer to every need is knowing Him in this way."