Talking or Listening?

First one rolled up, unsaddled and leaned his bike against the rail. He stood alone, gazing across the water to the cliffs towering the park.

A few minutes later, another rider whispered up the path, stopping just short of the one lost in the immenseness of Lake Annecy. He joined in surveying the beauty before them.

I watched from a distance, taking in sights and sounds of a place far from home. The park teemed with people. A large grassy field gave room to soccer lessons. Not far from there, people spent time with their dogs, read papers, or drank coffee. Some accomplished all three. (You’ll see some of these photos in weeks to come as I took lots of pictures on our trip to France.)

The hubbub around me surrendered to the display of a quiet friendship.

What if I told you this week’s image brought to mind a relationship with Jesus? Would that surprise you? Would you have thought that without my prompt?

John 15:15 tells us, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” (English Standard Version)

Look at the image again. If asked to choose, which man would you say represents Jesus in your relationship?

Would He be the one talking? If so, maybe He’s sharing advice or answering a question. Maybe he’s calling you to service, giving you an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than yourself. He could be comforting you by sharing a parable or Scripture that you so desperately need to hear.

Would He be the one listening? Could be He’s taking in a question from you when you don’t know where to turn next. Wouldn’t surprise me if He was letting you express everything on your heart, the good, the bad, and the ugly (excuse the cliché). Even though He knows everything about you, He wants to connect with you.

I hope using this image to visualize how we relate to Jesus doesn’t come across as disrespectful. Of course, part of every Christian’s life is allowing Him to be Lord of our lives. He deserves that role. He’s God.

I also believe God wants us to know that Jesus considers us more than servants. He wants us to understand that Jesus calls us friends. He does all those things the photo brings to mind, but only in the way the creator and saver of souls can do.

Do you have that close relationship with Him? When you need truth, help, or comfort, do you go to Him? When you need to talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly, do you go to Him?

I pray you do. Share your thoughts with me.