New Name Blog

By Jeremy Glaze

Do you know Dave Matthews?  If you have been under a rock and do not, we need to talk because you are missing out.  I am kind of a music nut and I am a fan of Dave Matthews.  I can tell you about all the albums he has released, recite the lyrics to most all his songs, and tell you the meaning behind a lot them.  I can play several of the songs on the guitar.  I have seen the DMB in concert a number of times.  But I have never met Dave Matthews.  I do not know him personally.

I also love the NFL.  I was sad last week after the Super Bowl because I realized that football is over for several months.  It was a great Super Bowl.  The only thing that could have made it better if the Packers or Vikings would have got in.  I have been a Brett Favre fan since the early 90’s.  I can tell you all about his NFL career, stats, and records.   I have been to Lambeau Field to watch him play.  But I have never had a conversation with Brett Favre. I do not know much about him away from the football field.

My point is that it is possible to know someone with out really knowing them.  And it does not just have to be some one famous.  It could be your college professor that you have never talked to outside of class.  It could be a client or coworker that you have never had a conversation with outside of work.  It could be someone that you go to church with.

Most importantly, it could be God.

I have known about God all my life.  I do not remember a time in my life where I did not proclaim to be a Christian.  I know there has never been a season where I was not in church.  I read the bible, I have chosen a doctrine to follow, and I even have a faith in Christ to try to live my life by.  But I cannot say that I have always personally known God.
You see, God is not just the higher power that we choose to believe in.  Jesus cannot be narrowed down to a religion that we try to follow.

The point of following Christ is relationship.  Jesus called His followers His friends.  And unlike the people I mentioned above, we have the opportunity to know God personally.  He is here for us to talk to, to listen to.  We can know about Him more than just as a historical figure, more than just an example to follow.  We can know His heart, His mind, and His tendencies.  More than the friend, parent, sibling, or spouse that we know like the back of my hand, we can know God intimately.  Regardless, He already knows us.  He knows our every thought, all our needs, and even the number of hairs on our head.  We cannot hide anything from Him, and He does not hide anything from us.  No matter how great our spouse, friend, parents, and siblings are, they are not perfect.  And we are not perfect to them.  But God is perfect.  He can never fail us.  He will never lead us the wrong way.  And He is always here with us.

So I encourage us not to seek a religion, a denomination, or church.  Let’s seek a relationship with the Lord of the earth who laid down His life for His friends.  The rest will come.  Let’s get to know Him.  Let’s find a quite place where we are still, and listen to Him.  He is all around us, moving in our lives.  He is talking to us.  Let’s make sure that we are listening.

Jeremy Glaze

New Name Blog

~ by Jeremy Glaze on February 15, 2010.

Posted in Jeremy Glaze
Tags: Friend, God, Relationship, Religion