August 12 - It’s Who You Know

 Read today’s texts first: Jeremiah 10-12; John 14

MAXIMize YOUR DAY 

God wants an intimate relationship with His bride, to walk and talk together like He did with Adam and Eve.

Yesterday we looked at sacrifices and circumcision, and how meaningless they are without a heart of devotion. Consider a marriage where the husband regularly sends flowers to his wife, maybe even jewelry and new shoes, but they arrive by UPS. He never comes home. He doesn’t talk to her, doesn’t listen to her, and they are no longer intimate. That’s what is happening with Judah, except the roles are reversed. God is the one initiating intimacy but His bride is heartless and unfaithful. She still tries to placate Him by giving things to Him, but her heart isn’t in it. She has other “men” (idols) on the side.

We sometimes think God, as described in the Old Testament, only wants things done, His laws obeyed. But seeing Jesus in John 14, constantly referring to knowing and loving us, gives us some insight. He represents the same God we read about in Isaiah and Jeremiah.

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men” (Isaiah 29:13). The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the Lord, so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered....I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps (10:21,23). The prophets are saying God wants an intimate relationship with His bride, to walk and talk together like He did with the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, in Eden (Gen. 3:8).

In John, Jesus is warning them about the persecution that awaits them all but He assures them with the promise of Heaven. When they ask where it is and how they will get there, Jesus explains it is all based on relationship. He says, “I am the way” and you already know me. Because of that you also know the Father and you will know the Holy Spirit when He shows up to help you on your way (14:4-11;16,17).

“Lord, thank You for the reminder that it’s not what I know but Who I know that matters. I want to know You more!”