John 10:14-15 (NLT) 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.
I am, once again, a part of an online Bible study with Proverbs 31 OBS and in my studying the other day they gave us this verse…John 10:14-15. This verse tells us that Jesus is our shepherd, our caregiver and protector. He knows us and will sacrifice His life for our sake. The book goes on to tell us what the Greek word for ‘know’ is; which is Yada. The meaning for Yada is a deep emotional experience, a bonding between two people when one truly feels the emotions of the other.
I had to pause after I read that and re-read it again. We often say we know someone, but just how much or how deeply do we really know that person? I have close friends and family that I believe I understand and “know” pretty well. I would even say that I have such a close connection with my husband that I can feel his pains and frustrations, but do I know them on the same level that Jesus knows them? To actually think about the depths of that is truly humbling.
The truth of the matter is if we look at this from our side…our knowledge and capacity for love and acceptance of others is ever evolving and growing because we are human and must daily seek God. BUT...God IS love; He is perfect never needing to evolve or grow any more than He already is. So for Him to know us is something far greater than we could ever realize or imagine. Verse 15 goes even deeper by comparing Jesus’ knowing us to God knowing Jesus. Which should really help us to realize just how much He understands us because Jesus is of God; He’s a part of Him. It truly can’t get any closer or deeper than that!
God knew what we would do and what we would become. He knows our deepest, most personal thoughts, fears, plans, desires and dreams. He knows our shortcomings, our sins...even down to our sometimes ill intents. However, even with all of that knowledge; with knowing the deepest, darkest parts of our being He still loves us fully and completely!! He freely sent His only son to die for our sins…now that is truly shouting grounds right there. I'm so thankful this morning that in spite of myself; my wrongs and my sins...God still KNOWS AND LOVES ME.
Can we really say that about anyone else? I mean if we all knew everything about everyone, would we still be totally unconditional with them? I would love to say, without a shadow of a doubt, YES…but, I think when being totally honest it would be difficult to do so. We are only human and as sad as it may be some things are beyond us to understand let alone look past. Now, by no means am I saying that we can’t forgive, let go and not be judgmental because with God’s help we can…but, because of our sinful human nature it’s impossible for us to be as unconditional as our loving Father is towards us.
Sometimes we search and search for that unconditional love and acceptance simply because we are wired to need it, but we never truly find it. That’s because we really aren’t looking in the right places. What we need to understand is that we really don’t have to look that far to find that Yada type of love. It’s in God…He loves us and accepts us for who we are. He knows us best and yet…. He still loves us best!
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