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Jesus, the people watcher.
For many years I traveled. Flying out Monday or Tuesday, I would return Thursday or Friday, just like millions of others. As is often the case, flights were delayed. While frustrating, those delays created great opportunities. Watching people was a favorite pastime.
I’d watch people sit, or walk, or sometimes run. At times it was fascinating. I’d wonder why people were sitting or running. I’d wonder why they were eating Sbarro. Some common questions included: “Where are they going? How’d they get into their line of work? Are they happy? What’s their deal?”
Jesus watched people, only He was much better at it. Much, much better. He didn’t wonder. Jesus saw the rich and the poor and knew them. He knew about their wives & kids. He knew their work situations. Every facet of every life was obvious. He knew why they were sitting or running or eating the Temple’s version of Sbarro. He knew their path to wealth or poverty. Their level and source of happiness was something He intuitively understood. He knew their respective deals.
Jesus knows my deal… better than I do. He knows my desires, my definition of ‘rich’. When my definition gets muddied, He provides clarity. Psalm 37 recently provided some clarity. It says if I delight myself in Him, then He will put His desires on my heart. Over and over I’ve learned that His desires lead to the life we all really want anyway … more and better life than we ever imagined (John 10:10). I’m thankful He knows me … it makes me want to know Him.
It is very comforting to be known. I love having that relationship where the other knows you so well they can finish your thoughts and words. My question for myself today is am I that kind of friend to Jesus. Do I know what He thinks or what He would do well enough to finish His thoughts or actions? Good stuff to work on today. To know Jesus and make Him known.
Proverbs 15:3 says “The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.”
I think Luke 21:1 continues the thought at the end of Luke 20. Jesus is intently and intentionally teaching on that point, and then… as he looks up, something catches his eye – the rich giving their gifts into the temple treasury. What we do with what we have is important to Jesus. I get the image of some folks thoughtlessly tossing in a perfunctory token, although a large golden token because they were rich. Maybe others considered the gift more carefully, a percentage of a percentage of a good deal that came through for them, maybe that pearl or sheep deal. Maybe others were just happy to give in general, thankful of all God’s blessings. But apparently something was missing. I think Jesus was waiting for the “Whoa!” moment.
I pray, like you, that whatever I give back in time, talent, or cash gives the Lord that “Whoa!” moment. Am I giving it all I got? Is it all for show or all for Him?
Thanks, Doug.
Doug -
Yes… HE does know what’s going on inside of each of us. That’s a wild thought, isn’t it?
He knew the religious folk in Luke 20 & 21 were focused on themselves and moolah. He knew the poor widow who gave two leptas may have been snookered into a religious system that would hurt her.
He knows what’s inside of me. Now THAT’S wild… and a whole lot scary. What I want inside of me is more of Him… His thoughts and ways and desires. I want this to be as natural as breathing. I want what I pursue to be what He is pursuing. That’s my prayer, and I’m sticking to it.
Thanks Doug.
blessings,
alan
I think God is calling you guys back here, Doug! Just kidding, but I thought I’d try.
Thanks for the reminder that God truly knows our heart. How scary that is but also comforting. Comforting b/c he knows us and loves us anyway. 2 words…WOW.
Miss you guys!
MA
Seems like all human beings have a core longing to be known. What a strange and marvelous coincidence that God just happens to already know us so intimately. And the better we get to know Him (versus knowing about Him), the more delight we find in Him.
Doug, thanks for sharing your heart and thoughts with us. Now it’s Dani’s turn!