How do I get to know you better?

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Think of a celebrity that you would like to learn more about and perhaps get to meet. For me it might be Garth Brooks and Tricia Yearwood.  What are some things that I might do to find out about them?

I might start with the Internet. Wikipedia would most likely have a nice entry for both of these folks. It might tell me where they were born, how they met, what their family is like, and maybe even where they live. It might include a list of all the songs they've written or recorded and any awards they have received. All in all, I could find some good general information there.

I might listen to their songs -- you can tell a lot about someone by investigating their art. I might listen to the Garth channel on XM radio so that I could hear him talk about various topics. Yes, I think I might get to know them a little better by listening to what they have to say / sing.

I might go to one of their concerts. Sometimes you can tell how real or phony someone is by seeing them perform. (Sometimes, of course, it is all an act.) I think I would come away with a much better connection with them if I saw them in person on the stage.

If I had an inside connection, I might arrange for a "meet and greet" prior to a performance. By speaking with them personally, I'd have a much better understanding about them as people. How firm are their handshakes? Are they huggers instead of handshakers? Are they warm or aloof? Are they engaged in what I'm saying or are they disinterested?

What if one day, totally out of the blue, my doorbell were to ring and I were to answer it only to find Mr. Brooks and Miss Yearwood standing there on my porch. Do you think I would slam the door in their faces and try to hide behind it? Would I go out on the porch and close the door behind me? Or would I open the door up wide for them to come in and sit down? After collecting myself (which might take a minute or two), I'd invite them in to be sure.

If I really wanted to establish a relationship with them and really get to know them, I'd ask them to stay for dinner. I'd probably fix spaghetti or stroganoff. And I'd arrange to have some sourdough bread on the table. We would eat dinner and chat and then push our chairs back and chat some more. Yep. That is how I'd really like to get to know Garth Brooks and Tricia Yearwood.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock.If anyone hears my voice and opens the doorI will come in to him and dine with himand he with me.Revelation 3:20

As we've studied Psalm 19 this week, I've thought a little about the above scenario. We get to know the Lord by taking in his artwork (creation), reading his literature (the Bible), getting to know his family members (other believers), hearing his presentations (church or Bible studies), having a dialogue with Him (prayer), and living with Him (involving Him in every area of our lives). As a result, we are much wiser and our lives are more complete. Unlike Garth Brooks and Tricia Yearwood, who are fine people I'm sure but who couldn't care less about visiting my little house in Richmond, Kentucky, our God is dying to come have supper with us and really live with us in our own space.

LORD, thank you for being personal. Thank you for caring about us -- for being interested in us -- for wanting to spend time with us. Help us to swing wide the doors of our hearts and to invite you in to live with us -- whether we've vacuumed the floor recently or not. Thank you for loving us in spite of our insecurities and failures. May we get to know you better every single day.