I am intrigued by people to the point that I find myself studying them. I watch people interact and pick up on their little nuances, I listen to their language and, probably more often than I should, read (listen) between the lines at what they are really trying to say. But more than even picking up on nuances and the impetus for people’s reactions, I try and get to know them.
I’ve been reading through Knowing God by J.I. Packer and I came across this quote:
“The quality and extent of our knowledge of other people depends more on them than on us. Our knowing them is more directly the result of their allowing us to know them than of our attempting to get to know them.”
I’m struck at how closely this parallels our relationship with God. It’s only because of his grace that we are able to know and experience God. Because he is so above us, so complex and so complete that we struggle to recognize even the most simplest characteristics of God, and by simplest, I recognize this is quite the conundrum! “But now that you know God – or rather are known by God” – reads Galatians 4:9. Grace. We only know God, only know as much as we can know, because he is allowing us to see and experience Him.
My good friend, just this morning, posted this blog about the difference between knowing and loving people. There’s a tremendous link between the two, but I recognize that I’m more preoccupied by knowing people than I should be. It’s when I love them that I truly know them, because it’s only when I love them, they will let me get to know them.
God is love. Not knowledge.
