Not a Fan. (Part Three)

     It's been awhile since I have posted on the book I'm currently reading, so I'l just go ahead and dive right in. Fans SEEM to know more than followers. They can tell you all of these random facts and recite whole paragraphs, but that's not the point. They don't really know God, they just know about him. In Matthew 15:8 it says "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." many fans give their minds to studying God, but they never surrender their hearts.
     Fans tend to confuse knowledge with intimacy. Some churches have even developed systems of learning that only result in knowledge, not intimacy. Don't get me wrong, studying and learning is a good thing. Knowledge isn't the problem, but it can falsely indicate intimacy. Where there is intimacy there should be growing knowledge, but far too often there is knowledge without a growing intimacy. The best biblical word for intimacy is "yada". This word is also used to describe the type of relationship that God wants with us. It is defined as to know completely and to be completely known. A good example of this is in Psalm 139:

Oh lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it Lord.

God knows us completely and he wants to be known by us. Some people consider themselves followers because of what they know about him, but you are true follower when you know Jesus.

     One of the best examples of this is in Luke 7. Jesus is invited over to dinner at Simon's home. He is obviously the guest of honor, but he doesn't receive the usual treatment. Back then, the honored guest was greeted with a kiss, had his feet washed, and his head was anointed with oils. None of this was done for Jesus. In fact, he was openly ignored. All of the sudden, a village prostitute enters the room. Everyone falls silent. They all know what she is, and they can't believe that she is there. Jesus sees her and knows that she has been changed. She had listened to him preaching and had decided to become of follower of him. His eyes light up and he gives her a warm smile. He views her with the pride of a father watching his beautiful daughter. That's how he feels about all of us. Now, no man had ever looked at her like that before. She taken so taken aback that she began sobbing and falls to Jesus feet. As her tears coat his feet, she notices that they haven't been washed. She lets her hair down (which is a sign of extreme intimacy) and wipes his feet with her hair. She pours her perfume on them and she kisses his feet. Jesus then addresses Simon and tells him how Simon neglected him and how the woman shows such respect. in the end, Simon is the fan and the women is the true follower. And who are we most like?

     So, ask yourself this: When's the last time you...

           had one of those moments?

           poured yourself out before God, to God?

           expressed your complete love for him?

           demonstrated your love with reckless abandonment?

Hebrews 4:13

Nothing in all of creation is hidden from God's sight. 

Everything is uncovered and laid bare 

before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.