Mat_13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
What is communication?
com·mu·ni·ca·tion kəˌmyo͞onəˈkāSHən/ noun
It is said that we think in pictures, not words. If this is true, then every word that is spoken to us must be translated into a picture that we can understand. If that is true, then "Houston, we have a problem". Your experience, your data bank of pictures, is different than mine, at least in part. Therefore, when we speak or write we must speak to the listeners experience. What a challenge to the communicator!
Obviously, some will not get it, some will get it wrong and some will get it right. This is especially true of those of us who are trying to communicate esoteric ideas such as faith or humility or spirit.
What pictures flash through your mind when I say the word faith? Stop a minute and slow down your mind and look.
How about the word Love? Or God?
What pictures do you see?
I have heard (and have had the same experience) that the word God conjures up a picture of an old gray headed man, dressed in long white flowing robs, sitting on a throne amongst the clouds. Some of us see a scowl of disgust on this images face, some see an angry face still others see a Loving but feeble man. All of these images are wrong, we haven’t any accurate pictures of God that we have experienced, however we do have a number of word descriptions that have been provided in the Holy Scriptures, non of them completely or accurately describe the image of God.
When Moses had ask to see God He said:
Exo 33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
Exo 33:21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
Exo 33:22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
Exo 33:23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
So how are we to get an accurate picture of God, one that when I say God you know who I mean?
Our Lord and Savior answered this question for us when near the end of His ministry He said:
Joh_14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Joh_14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Joh_14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Joh_14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Joh_14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
While studying my Bible has not given me a picture of the physical presence of the Father or Jesus, it has given me a host of pictures to draw from that speak to the many attributes of the Father and my Lord. Each of these images, while they may not be very effective in communicating with you they have been extremely effective in communicating with our Father.
So my suggestion, read the Bible from beginning to end if you want to get to know the Father and be able to effectively communicate with Him.
So what do you think?
Please comment.
What is communication?
com·mu·ni·ca·tion kəˌmyo͞onəˈkāSHən/ noun
- 1. the imparting or exchanging of information or news.
"direct communication between the two countries will produce greater understanding"
synonyms: transmission, conveyance, divulgence, disclosure
- 2. means of connection between people or places, in particular.
It is said that we think in pictures, not words. If this is true, then every word that is spoken to us must be translated into a picture that we can understand. If that is true, then "Houston, we have a problem". Your experience, your data bank of pictures, is different than mine, at least in part. Therefore, when we speak or write we must speak to the listeners experience. What a challenge to the communicator!
Obviously, some will not get it, some will get it wrong and some will get it right. This is especially true of those of us who are trying to communicate esoteric ideas such as faith or humility or spirit.
What pictures flash through your mind when I say the word faith? Stop a minute and slow down your mind and look.
How about the word Love? Or God?
What pictures do you see?
I have heard (and have had the same experience) that the word God conjures up a picture of an old gray headed man, dressed in long white flowing robs, sitting on a throne amongst the clouds. Some of us see a scowl of disgust on this images face, some see an angry face still others see a Loving but feeble man. All of these images are wrong, we haven’t any accurate pictures of God that we have experienced, however we do have a number of word descriptions that have been provided in the Holy Scriptures, non of them completely or accurately describe the image of God.
When Moses had ask to see God He said:
Exo 33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
Exo 33:21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
Exo 33:22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
Exo 33:23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
So how are we to get an accurate picture of God, one that when I say God you know who I mean?
Our Lord and Savior answered this question for us when near the end of His ministry He said:
Joh_14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Joh_14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Joh_14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Joh_14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Joh_14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
While studying my Bible has not given me a picture of the physical presence of the Father or Jesus, it has given me a host of pictures to draw from that speak to the many attributes of the Father and my Lord. Each of these images, while they may not be very effective in communicating with you they have been extremely effective in communicating with our Father.
So my suggestion, read the Bible from beginning to end if you want to get to know the Father and be able to effectively communicate with Him.
So what do you think?
Please comment.
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