Introductions

"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit."-I John 4:11-13

Have you ever had an awkward moment when you're meeting someone for the first time, and by the time you've finished the introductions, you already have forgotten their name? At some point, the moment of truth arrives, and you have to humbly apologize that you need to ask their name again. I know a pastor that has a remarkable memory for names. I'm in awe of this gift. How does he do it? I'm not sure, but I wish I knew.

Perhaps, the problem in remembering a name when first meeting someone is exactly that: meeting someone for the first time. A relationship hasn't been built and the few minutes spent together haven't created any emotional bond. As time goes on and the relationship grows and feelings develop, the person rather than the name of the person is what becomes important to us. It's easy to remember the name of someone we care about. 

I'm guessing that most everyone has heard the name, Jesus, but to really know Jesus takes the commitment of getting to know Him. I often think that Christmas and Easter are great introduction moments, but to really build a lasting relationship, it will take dedication and sacrifice of time. He's one of those friends that really does want to change us. He loves us for who we are, but wants so much more for us. He wants us to develop our talents and share them with others. The Bible verse above says, "God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."  If His Love is made complete in us, then it seems that he wants us to succeed in all we do. It may also seem that we carry a responsibility to share that Love with others. In some ways, it's as if God is that Cheerleader inside of us saying things like, "You can do it!; Be bold!; Take risks and introduce others to Me!; and Remember I'm a living part of you and regardless of the outcome we will deal with it together."  

Loving others takes courage and having that Cheerleader inside of us helps us step out of our comfort zones. All we need to do is call out His name, and He's already here. That's what a true and loving relationship is all about knowing that you can count on someone. The best part of having Jesus for a friend is that He needs no introductions because He's known us even before we took our first breath.

Heavenly Father and Friend,

Thank you for being our Cheerleader at all times and in all places. Give us courage to introduce others to You. May we always trust that You live in us and complete us. Amen.