This is the final week of the wives stepping in to write for their husbands. Cherri fills in for Jeff this week.
The title of today’s blog is a big phrase in church advertising. It speaks to the need that all of us have as humans. Marketers tell us that we should speak to the need to be known, noticed, and loved when we are advertising our church or ministries. But why? Because we all desire, at our core, to be known, noticed, and loved whether we know Jesus or not. We seek it in lots of people and places and usually come away disappointed. The people and places often fall short and leave us disappointed.
Here’s the thing - Jesus knows us, notices us, and loves us perfectly and he leaves us a blueprint for how we can know, notice, and love people imperfectly here on earth while we wait for His return. Let’s take a look at his blueprint.
Known
We all long to be known all the way to the core of who we are. We don’t want to have to explain ourselves or our emotions to other people. In our relationships it rarely happens that someone just “knows” us without a little work on our (and their) part. However, Psalm 139 is a beautiful chapter that shows how very much we are ‘known” by God. He saw us before we were born. He knows us inside and out. Here is the best part of that chapter, He “knows” all that we are and he loves us anyway. How encouraging that is. I hope that it also leads you to want to get to know God a bit better, too.
So, how can Psalm 139 shape our relationships? Get to “know” those around you. You might be surprised at what you learn. You might find some things that tie you together with a friend. You might find that you and your spouse relate on a deeper level. You might find that knowing someone and all their stuff allows you to also be known.
Noticed
This deep longing hits differently for everyone. Some people outwardly spend time trying to be noticed. Some have no outward desire for people to notice them but they still crave to be seen. We all want to be seen and recognized. Jesus did that! In Luke 19:1-10 Jesus was traveling in Jericho. Zacheaus climbed a tree to better see Jesus but Jesus stopped and noticed him. The Bible tells us Zacheaus was short so he was probably overlooked a lot but here comes Jesus noticing Zach! Jesus even invited himself over for a meal (love that).
How do we use the story of Zacheaus? Notice people. Smile, shake hands, say Hi, compliment them, or invite them to dinner (coffee, lunch). You never know what a small act of noticing will do in a person’s life. The act of noticing costs us very little but the impact can be great.
Loved
This is probably the deepest of the three. We ALL want to be loved. It is the final step in this progression. You are noticed, known, and then loved. I don’t think you can be loved if you are not first noticed and known by someone. Jesus loved us in the best way possible when he laid down his life. He did it because he noticed you and knew you and wanted a relationship with you. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his love for us, that while we were sinners, Christ died of us.” He had noticed us. He knew us. Then he died for us! The best part of this for me is that he knew exactly who I was and he died anyway because he wanted a relationship with me!
Now, I am not suggesting that we die for those around us. However, if we are using this as a blueprint it does suggest that we love others in a selfless way. In Matthew 22:39 Jesus tells the crowd while talking about the greatest commandment, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Did that hit you? Looking out for their needs above our own; loving our spouses in the way they need; loving our kids or parents despite how we might “feel” in the moment; loving our friends despite differences; those are the ways we love others as ourselves.
Known, Noticed, Loved
You may have noticed that the thoughts above had very little to do with someone knowing, noticing, or loving you. The Bible has little to say about us “getting” those things but it has lots to say about us “giving” those things. I believe that when we walk like Jesus walked, when we take the time to know, notice, and love people like Jesus does, that we find those voids in our life being filled with Jesus because we can’t walk like Jesus does without seeking after Him first.
Here is a challenge for this Christmas week:
1. Take some time to really know, notice, and love someone in your life. Feel free to take notes for future reference.
2. Ask Jesus to give you wisdom as to who that should be (you may have lots of familial options this week).
3.Seek him and ask him to fill those spots in your heart, too.
Written By: Cherri Abner
🎁 MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄
