Known & Loved
The gentleman where I get my car washed always calls me “brother”. It’s cool … and weird. While I frequent the same carwash and we informally chat each time, he’s not my brother. He doesn’t know me and I really don’t know him. To be brothers and sisters means something in the Scriptures. It means we are family, connected by our Heavenly Father and His Son, our Older Brother, Jesus. It means we have more in common as spiritual siblings than we do with unbelieving physical siblings. It means we share not only time on earth in the here-and-now together, but all of eternity together. The Bible calls us to love each other … and real love means we know each other … and to know each other means we spend time together. In spending time together, the goal is to open your heart to being known and to pursue knowing another. The enemies to this kind of being known and loved abound. From disembodied “relationships” that only exist online to terminally casual relationships that never progress beyond the surface, it’s far too easy to live isolated lives. This is a massive trap of the enemy. What to do?
Make it a point every day to share something of yourself with another person. Often “going first” invites others to share their own heart with you. Whether a spouse or sibling, friend or fellow co-worker, chose to share something meaningful with another person. Don’t make yourself the hero. Don’t be self-promoting. Just be humble and honest. That’s a great start!
Make it a point every week to connect meaningfully with another person. Pursue hospitality. Budget for hospitality. Just do it! Invite someone to your house, or out for lunch, or on a hike. Plan your calendar in such a way that you have a “date with a friend” every week. Set aside time and money to serve another person, seeking to bless them through your pursuit.
Make it a point every month to reflect and evaluate how you’re doing in relationships. Look back at the schedule and reflect on those conversations and the active way you loved. Did you make them feel safe? Did you make them feel known? Did you delight in Christ with them?
To be known and loved by our Heavenly Father, and to love His Word, means that we will seek to know and love our true brothers and sisters … not optional!