Have you ever played for a coach who was too absent, silent, or both? If so, I bet neither you nor your team got very far. It’s impossible to receive beneficial coaching from someone seldom seen or hardly heard from.

But a truly great coach always shows up and has valuable things to say — motivationally, technically and strategically. So is it with God. He repeatedly wants us all to see and hear from Him. 

Yes, God is committed to being seen, heard, known. As many as 26 times in the Book of Ezekiel alone, the phrase “Then you will know that I am the LORD” appears.

This begs the question, “How is God best seen and heard?” How best can we know Him? Here’s the answer:

• Through His written Word, the BIBLE. God is seen and heard best in the best way He seeks us: Scripture. To know the Word is to know God (Matthew 4:4).
• Through His incarnate Word, JESUS. He is the exact representation of the living God. This is how we know what God is really like (Hebrews 1:1,3).
• Through His spoken Word, His SPIRIT. The Spirit is counselor and guide, the One who meets us in prayer (John 14:26 and 16:13).
• Whenever we come to Him with EXPECTANCY, earnestly seeking Him. Those who expect the best often find it (Hebrews 11:6). [Note: This may include fasting. Ezra 8:23]
• Whenever we “TASTE Him,” whenever we take a bite and experience Him for ourselves. We find out so much about God in each active, obedient step we take in trusting Him (Psalm 34:8).
• Whenever we REP Him well to a watching world. Then the world gets a distinct idea of who He is (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Like no other god, our God is uber-committed to being known. And the commitment response He longs to see in us is this: our looking and listening, our tasting and trusting Him. Only rebellion and unbelief can kill this super connection.

Reflect: How is your spiritual seeing and hearing (your Bible-reading, Jesus-imitating, Spirit-listening/praying) going? When you attend church, read the Bible, begin praying, do you go with great expectancy? Where can you “taste” (trust) and “rep” God in a new way today?

A prayer to consider: LORD, thank You for making Yourself known to me in many, faithful, even stunning ways. I really need this. 

Help me to want more than I already have. Forgive my passivity and pride that makes me settle for minimums. I’ll keep looking and listening for You, humble and hungry, tasting and trusting, with joy and expectancy. Amen.