Friends of God: Never "Ghosted"
/Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her,
“You are a God who sees me” [El Roi]
for she said, “Have I even seen Him here and lived after He saw me?”
Genesis 16:13 NASB
Have you ever been “ghosted”? Made to feel invisible, not important, on the outside looking in?
I’ve got good news! Our friend Jesus never ghosted anyone. And He never ghosts us.
He sees us — yes, each of us. We may be unattractive, foolish, old, not terribly smart, in the way, loud, lonely, sad, depressed. He sees us.
Or maybe the opposite— we may be happy, smart, competent, but the cause of jealousy and competition on the part of someone … so better to be ignored. He gets us.
I love how over and over it says of our Lord, “He saw someone and was moved with compassion.”
Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd.
Matthew 9:35-37 MSG
He SAW! Really saw, so it moved His heart with compassion and mercy, and He acted on behalf of needy persons.
And this is the heart of our Father God. There is a significant Name of God in Genesis 16:13, El Roi, the God Who Sees. The amazing thing is that this heart-grabbing name wasn’t spoken to the Old Testament “big shots” Abraham & Sarah. NO! God personally revealed Himself to the little maiden Hagar who was victimized by the “big shots” when they disobeyed God and didn’t wait on His Promise. Read the story in Genesis 16 and watch and listen to the stories in song at the end.
Just know, dear friend, even if “big shots” in your life ghost you, there is ONE who is bigger than all and He sees you and gets you and is moved with compassion over you. And He has called us His Friends. Run to HIM!