Getting to Know You

“Lord, Lord,” they said, “open the door for us!” But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.”-Matthew 25:11-12

When I take my wife out to eat on a date, she won’t let me face the TV in the restaurant. She knows I get distracted watching whatever is on. It could be sports or it could be a special on basket-weaving, I still get sucked in. And I don’t really see the problem with it. If there is a lull in the conversation and we don’t have anything to talk about, what’s the harm in watching a little TV?
I never really understood why this was an issue until one night when we went out to eat and I got distracted watching 2 couples at 2 different tables. At one table was a young couple clearly in love. They may have been newlyweds, but my guess is they were still dating. They were sitting on the same side of the booth, snuggled up, talking non-stop, laughing at each other’s jokes. Their food was getting cold, but they didn’t care.
At the table next to them was an elderly couple, and I’m guessing they had been married for decades. They didn’t say a word. Nothing. I watched as they just sat there in silence. I finally pointed this out to my wife, saying, “Look at that. Isn’t that kind of sad? It starts off one way, with this young couple just talking, talking, talking, and then decades later, you have this older couple just sitting there in silence. It’s sad.” And my wife said, “I think it’s kind of sweet.”
At first, I was confused by her reply. Until it hit me: It was sweet because they didn’t have to say anything. Being together, focused on each other, even in silence, was a picture of the kind of relationship my wife wants. She doesn’t care about the nice dinner. She isn’t impressed by my expensive gifts, kind words, or thoughtful acts. She wants my heart. She wants to know me.
Ultimately, that’s how our relationship with Jesus will be defined. Our acts of piety, our adherence to religion, our observance of rules and rituals — none of this will impress Him. More than He wants our words of affection, our tithe dollars, or our acts of service, He simply wants to know us and for us to know Him.

Following Today
How well do you know Jesus? Write down a list of things you already know about Him. Consider looking up His “I AM” statements (the good shepherd, gentle and humble in heart, the way, the truth, the life, etc.) in the Gospels using an online search engine.