GETTING TO KNOW YOU
"And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah, whom You have sent" (John 17:3 AMP).
How long does it take before we can say we know another? Knowing takes time. It is a commitment to a process that starts with the notion of value. Because we are meant to "love one another," we put a high value on companionship and perceive in our thinking what an ideal companion would be. Our imagination of the ideal can often cloud our vision so that we are prejudicial in our assessment of the value of another. Jesus Christ came, not only to save us from the penalties of our sins, but to reconcile us to God. His value to mankind is far above any assessment we could imagine. Yet, most of those who encountered Him did not value Him for Who He is (Isaiah 53: 2). And, eventually, as He revealed Himself and His purpose, those who at first were infatuated with Him, came to despise Him. Even those who thought they knew Him either betrayed Him, abandoned Him or denied knowledge of Him. But Jesus is a friend like no other! His patient forbearance and forgiveness of those whom God the Father had given Him, would draw and hold His friends to the journey of getting to know Him.
Once we decide to get to know someone, we must let them know we recognize them. We introduce ourselves and make an effort to meet again. We are said to be "acquainted with" another when we find shared interests and little known facts about each other. As time passes and frequency of meetings increases, our intimate knowledge continues to develop. Trust begins to form and confidentiality to grow. We begin to understand and appreciate the character and motivation of our friend, it is then we are said to be "intimate" friends. Yet, as human beings, we are not all-knowing. As a result, we are more likely to know our friend only in part as we are not be intimately acquainted with his or her heart. Why? Because all of us have a fear of total exposure of ourselves to another. And so, we allow for someone else to know us only to a measured degree.
© S.M. Hudson, Hidden Treasure Ministries, December 2003. All rights reserved.
Categories: forgiveness
