I’m sure you’ve heard of the six degrees of separation. Popularized in music, stage, and screen, the idea is that all people are six degrees (people), or fewer, social connections away from another person. To put it another way, we all know someone who knows someone who knows someone, until in only six relationships, we are all connected.
A few years ago, I attended a Texas Rangers baseball game in Arlington. At the Ball Park in Arlington, there is a playground area for young kids. During the game, I went with my son Josh, about 8 at the time, to play some of the games. As I was watching Josh play, I found myself in a conversation with a rather excited woman—dressed head to toe in Texas Rangers attire. I happened to be wearing a University of Louisiana at Lafayette t-shirt. She asked me about the t-shirt and indicated that she had lived in South Louisiana for a brief time as a child. She asked what brought me to the game. I said I was just visiting the area and wanted to take in a game. I wasn’t really a fan of the Rangers, but a baseball fan. Then she asked whether I was going to be at the game on the next evening. I indicated that I was not. Then she said, “That’s too bad, because tomorrow night my son, Rob Bell, is going to be the starting pitcher for the Rangers. That’s his kids out there playing.”
God encountered Moses in a burning bush calling him to go to Pharaoh to lead the people out of Egypt. During the ensuing conversation, God revealed the name, I AM, to Moses. It’s an unusual name, isn’t it? But you see, each time that God revealed a new name, He was revealing something about Himself.
Yahweh is a name that indicates the personal nature of God.
Until this point in Moses’ life, God was a God of history. He was the God of His people. God was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. From this moment forward, God would reveal Himself as a personal God. I’m afraid that for far too many people, God is still just a God of history. He is the God of a story – but God wants to be known by you in a deeply more personal way.
As I reflect back on my encounter with the woman at the ballpark, I realized her reason for being at the game and my reason for being at the game were worlds apart. I was there because it was something to do while on a trip. She was there to watch her son. I was there to have something to do. Her presence was personal.
Two things stand out to me about my conversation with her:
- She was excited.
- She was going to tell somebody that her son played for the Rangers. I happened to be that someone.
Shouldn’t we as God’s children be equally, or even more excited than this baseball Mom? If we are, we’ll seek similar conversations and opportunities that ultimately point people to Jesus.
Whether you’re participating in the Who’s Your One effort or our own Here for You campaign, there are ways to engage those we encounter in potentially life altering conversations.
Six degrees of separation?
This may be true of relationships in this world, but it’s not good to be separated from God – even if it’s just one degree. If you are not personally connected to God, today is the day to become personally connected to Him. God promises to draw close to you if you’ll draw close to Him (James 4:8).
If you are connected to God, seek someone who is not and ask God to use you to bring them at least one degree closer to Him.
God says He is “I Am.” Do you know Him in this personal way?
