Mr. Taylor
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7-11
Insight
Down three with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. It was now or never. I gripped the bat tight, watched the ball leave the pitcher's hand, and swung with all my might. SMACK! The ball took flight and soared through the sky. Elated, I started running the bases soaking in my greatest sports achievement to date: a walk-off grand slam in a highly contested backyard baseball game with friends.
But, my excitement soon turned into dread. CRACK! The ball went straight through Mr. Taylor's living room window. I went from hero to a dead man in a matter of seconds. Mr. Taylor was a mythical man in our neighborhood. Many weaved tales about his sour demeanor and cantankerous personality. However, very few, if any of these stories, had been authenticated, which only caused the legend of Mr. Taylor to grow.
He was like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. He rarely emerged from his shuddered home. Now, I had the task of retrieving our baseball and having to fess up to why there was a new breeze coming from his window. A few of my friends asked if they could have my Nintendo and skateboard if I never returned.
Mustering up every ounce of courage I had, I made the long trek up the driveway and knocked on the door. I could hear the pounding of his footsteps, and the door suddenly unlocked. Since I am writing this devotional today, you can rest assured I survived the whole ordeal. Mr. Taylor was very understanding about the broken window. He invited me in, and he told me about playing stickball in the town where he grew up.
Believe it or not, this encounter was the beginning of our friendship. My made-up perception of him was nowhere close to reality. He was the direct opposite of the image I had constructed in my mind. I got to see a different side of Mr. Taylor that no other kid in the neighborhood did, all because I had the courage to go to the door and knock.
Our perception of others impacts our interactions with them. Until the broken window incident, how did my picture of Mr. Taylor shape our relationship? It's simple. There wasn't one. My perception created distance. I stayed far away to ensure I wouldn't face his wrath. When I think about the character of God, I'm reminded of my friend Mr. Taylor.
Whether we realize it or not, each one of us has some idea of God. When we hear the word "GOD," a picture is painted in our minds. The way we think about God influences our relationship or lack thereof. The image we hold of God is so powerful it shapes the way we perceive the world and our place in it. When we possess a skewed version of God built upon misunderstandings, assumptions, and the disappointments we have experienced from humanity, we often react to life based on circumstances and feelings.
The beginning of any relationship is knowing someone's name. The same is true with God. To know God requires understanding His heart and His character. And this can only take place if we heed the words of Jesus to "ask, seek, and knock." We have to go to the door. Understanding His heart can drastically alter and revolutionize an individual's life. Hope lies in knowing His heart.
Reflection
Your perception of God influences the way you approach Him. How has your perception of God impacted your relationship with Him?
Where do you need to "ask, seek, and knock"?
Prayer
God, I desire to know Your name. Help me to examine my picture of You and not rest on my assumptions. Give me the courage to replace any perceptions of Your character that doesn't line up with Scripture. May I realize the way I think about You influences our relationship. Open my eyes to the greatness of who You are. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.