Connected in The Word 10-28-25
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. 1 John 3:1a
My daughter Adelyn played high school basketball and was blessed to have an amazing coach. Coach Carlson knew a thing or two about basketball, but she also truly knew and loved the girls on the team. At the end of each season at the team banquet, she always had a special way to recognize each girl on the team. I vividly remember one year when it was Adelyn’s turn to be recognized and coach Carlson began by saying, “To know Addie is to love Addie.” I of course cried. This woman truly knew and loved my daughter.
You’ve probably heard or even used that saying before. “To know (insert name) is to love (insert name).” It means that anyone who gets to know this person will love this person because of who they are. Did you catch the order of things there? Once you know the person – You will love the person. Knowing leads to Loving. That got me thinking about the verse above. I think God does things in a DIFFERENT ORDER! God didn’t get to know me and then decide to love me. It would take God about half a second to realize I’m not very lovable. Instead, God loves me so that He can know (γινώσκω) me! I am loved and known by God in and through Jesus.
I will always remember coach’s words, “To know Addie is to love Addie!” But truth be told, I think Coach Carlson LOVED Addie enough to truly get to KNOW Addie. Loving leads to Knowing! God’s love given to us in Jesus, makes us to be children of God! You are KNOWN by God because you were LOVED by God!
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