I got to thinking about some celebrities and famous people that I have had to pleasure to “meet.” Once on vacation in Hawaii, I had a momentary chance conversation with the sports caster, Jim Nance (a very nice guy by the way). As a teenager, I “met” (actually just acknowledged) the Queen of England with a well-rehearsed curtsy.

In the 70’s, the preacher David Jeremiah was a client (briefly). Once John Wayne spoke to me as he apologized for bumping my chair (we were seated too closely together in a restaurant).

I got a special invitation to visit the House of Representatives and sit in the speaker’s chair. I even rode on the “train” that connects their offices with the capital building. I was invited to meet with Laura Bush at the White House. I made it to her office in the East Wing, but she was a “no show.”

While Rick and Kay Warren’s children attended Stoneybrooke, both of them would take my phone calls. Wow.

So, do these opportunities make me something special? Nope.

But here is what does. Paul wrote in the book of Galatians (Gal. 4:9) that a child of God can know Him and more importantly, to be known by Him!

Jesus taught on that subject in John 10 using the analogy of a shepherd and his sheep. He declared, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…”

Now there is a truth to rejoice about. The Creator of the universe knows me. He states in Psalm 139 that He is intimately acquainted with ALL my ways. “Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely.”

Knowing a celebrity doesn’t add worth to our lives. Name dropping is childish. Bragging about special opportunities to be seen or heard just makes us seem shallow.

But being known by the Lord, now that’s something to cherish, really cherish.

So, this week, let’s all take a few minutes to consider the weight of that relationship. God knows our ups and downs. He is aware of “the sin that so easily encumbers us.” He observes our feeble attempts to please Him. He watches us struggle to be who we ought to be. And all along the way, He swells with pride much like the Prodigal Son’s dad. Because He knows us so well, He is anxious to embrace His kids and gentle to move us off in the right direction.

I know Him. But more importantly He knows me. (And he always takes my calls…)