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By Mike Caton

John 7:28b-29, “You do not know him, but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.”

Jesus emphasizes the fact that the father has sent him. And based on the fact that the father has sent him, Jesus says he knows the father. There is a special connection between a father and a son. They know each other, they love each other, they help each other, they are concerned for each other. We understand the relationship between God the Father and Jesus the Son is different from our earthly family relationship. Jesus was God himself, in the flesh, come to earth. He knew God because he was God.

We cannot know God in that way, we are not God after all. But the question demands to be asked, how well do we know God? Do we know God like many people know the president? They have never met him, and likely never will, and yet they talk about him as if he is an old friend, loving or hating everything that he does. Do we know God like we know the clerk in the grocery store? We know her name, maybe they even know ours, if we have written a few checks there. We might see her at school, dropping off her kids or at the ball field, cheering them on. But that’s about it; just a passing acquaintance. Maybe we know him like our doctor or a deputy. We have his number saved in our phone, but we only call on him when we need something, when there is a problem. In any of those cases, do we really know that person? Do we really have a relationship with them?

God longs to have the kind of relationship with us where we realize he is our heavenly father. He loves us more than we can imagine, and wants us to love him the same way. He wants to be a huge and an intimate part of our life. And he invites us, over and ovhttps://www.thecoastlandtimes.com/2020/10/08/reflections-by-the-sea-a-new-season/er, to that kind of relationship. The choice to accept that invitation is ours. Will we, will you, come into that kind of relationship with the Father?

Father, thank you for loving, wanting, and accepting me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mike Caton is the preacher at Mount Olive Church of Christ in Belhaven. He volunteers at the Ponzer Fire Department and works part time with Hyde County EMS. If you would like to receive daily devotions in your inbox, email mikecaton@centurylink.net.

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