Known or noticed?
That was a question posed to us recently at our weekly Pastors meeting by our Executive Pastor Scott. As is usually the case me, being someone who can't stand the awkward silence that comes after a question is asked, spoke up with, “I feel that I am known after speaking in front a of a crowd”. But after thinking more about my answer I realized that public speaking doesn’t really allow anyone to be known. Oh, sure during the short time that I share in front of a group they get to know me a little bit. But to really know someone takes time. And both time and patience are commodities that people don’t seem to have a lot of in today’s world. Speaking allows for the speaker to be noticed but not to really, intimately, be known. I think that what I really want is to be known. I believe that’s what we all want. We all want to go deeper in our connections with others. I often wonder if many of the world’s problems could be solved if people simply got to know one another. As my friend and fellow Pastor, Dick Foth writes, “There is built into each of us the need not just to connect but the need to engage. We discover ourselves as we discover each other”. That’s what being known is all about.
Jesus had a knack for getting to know people. He had a way of getting past a person’s rough exterior and getting to know the heart of a person.
Jesus knew Peter. Despite his tough talk and rough outer edges, Jesus knew that Peter’s passion would one day build the Church.
Jesus knew the woman caught in an adulterous act. He saw through her embarrassing circumstances and knew what she really needed was to be loved and offered forgiveness.
Jesus knew the hemorrhaging woman. He knew that she had a need to no longer be ostracized because of her medical condition, but instead desired to be healed and included.
Jesus knew the dying thief on the cross. He knew the crimes that landed him there, and offered the man much needed forgiveness from an all-forgiving God.
Jesus knew people, and He knows you. He knows all the desires of your heart. He knows all of your pains and struggles. And in your struggle Jesus desires to draw you closer to Him. And as you come closer to God you will come to know Him in new ways today.
Recommended book to read: “Known” by Dick and Ruth Foth. An easy read that, as the tag line says will help you in, “Finding deep friendships in a shallow world.”