I Know a Guy

The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. - 1 John 4:8

We have all heard the old saying, "It's not what you know, but who you know." In West Africa, this is very true. Young people with degrees from a university must often "know" someone with influence in order to find a professional job. It isn't enough to be talented or gifted. A person needs connections.

Another example of this adage was discovered when something needed repair (a weekly occurrence). Rather than try to find a repairman on my own, I would first check with friends. Why? They usually "knew a guy" who could fix it! In Africa, knowledge is considered power and a person will sometimes withhold information, to give themselves leverage over others. Sharing information then becomes a way of exercising that power. Who you know really matters!

Who do you know? The greatest power in your life comes from knowing God, not just knowing about Him, but knowing Him through the experience of personal salvation. So here's an idea. The next time someone approaches you with a "life" problem just tell them, "I know a Guy, and His name is Jesus."

Knowing God without knowing our own wretchedness makes for pride. Knowing our own wretchedness without knowing God makes for despair. Knowing Jesus Christ strikes the balance because he shows us both God and our own wretchedness. - Blaise Pascal