Nov
1
2018
Approachable
Posted in Daily Living Leave a comment
I was thinking about the word, approach.
I was thinking about all the ways it can be used in a sentence.
I looked up its meaning in the dictionary.
There are two meanings that are used most often.
Approach: (verb) to come near or nearer to (someone or something) in distance.
Approach: (verb) to speak to (someone) for the first time about something.
I have used the word in both contexts from time to time.
After that, I thought of the word, approachable.
Approachable: friendly and easy to talk to.
Approachable: able to be reached from a particular direction or by a particular means.
The word, approachable, is the word that intrigues me.
That is the word I found myself tumbling in my mind.
What does it mean to be approachable to another person?
Is it demeanor?
Is it friendliness?
Is it availability?
Does it mean being easily accessible?
Does it mean being understanding?
Does it mean being humble?
Does it mean being true?
It was the last question that I found myself pondering.
I found myself pondering it in terms of being a Christian.
What does it mean for a Christian to be approachable?
By contrast, what doesn’t it mean?
If we are to tell others about Jesus, how does being approachable help them hear us?
If we are to disciple others on their spiritual journey, is it important to be approachable?
There is no room for sitting in ivory towers as we share the Gospel.
There is no room for superiority.
There is no fence sitting when it comes to telling others about Jesus.
People we come in contact with can discern the authenticity of our faith.
Talking the talk without walking the walk is disastrous.
That tension makes it difficult to hear Truth.
All of us sin and fall short of God’s glory; admitting that is the first step to being approachable.
No one wants to talk to someone who has it all together and boasts about it.
Being approachable means admitting mistakes and failures.
Being approachable means telling others how Jesus changed you.
I was tumbling all of this in my mind as I was driving.
A song from a playlist came on that made me pause.
The words spoke to my heart.
The words conveyed everything I had been pondering.
Have you ever been so selfish that you let your baby cry,
While you finished up a video game?
I haven’t either.
That’s pretty bad.
Have you ever stretched the truth telling stories to your friends,
So they’d be a little bit more amazed?
I haven’t either.
I’d never do that.
There are some people out there who aren’t completely sincere.
What they show in the daylight is not exactly what’s inside.
It’s a form of protection from being rejected.
You and I can be so glad we are not like that.
Have you ever made a promise to yourself a thousand times,
Just to break it over and over again?
I haven’t either.
Only people with problems do that kind of thing.
But have you been so full of doubt that you just can’t pray to God,
Cause you wonder if he even exists?
I haven’t either.
I…
There are some people out there who aren’t completely sincere.
What they show in the daylight is not exactly what’s inside.
It’s a form of protection from being rejected.
You and I can be so glad we are not like that.
Who am I kidding?
Who am I kidding?
I am just like them.
No, I’m only kidding.
Have you ever felt compelled to get a weight off of your chest?
Can’t follow through because you are ashamed.
I’ve heard that you can tell the ones who truly open up,
Cause their lives are marked with freedom and with peace.
I don’t have either.
No, I haven’t either.
(I Haven’t Either, by Andy Gullahorn)
The song touched my heart.
It was as if the songwriter knew exactly what I was tumbling in my mind.
Approachable; being able to admit our struggles and our pain.
Being honest about what we are going through, while pointing to the Lord who is always there.
Approachable does not mean that you have to regurgitate all your problems.
It does mean admitting that you have them.
It does mean admitting that your life is not perfect.
It does mean being honest that you struggle, too.
It does mean telling them about Jesus.
It does mean telling them that there is a Savior who walks with you through the mess.
There is a Savior who loves you even, and especially, when your life is upside down.
There is a Savior who knows everything about you, even the things you think you covered up.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)
Being approachable is the best way to point others to Jesus.
Let them see the real you, mistakes and all.
Do not polish yourself up for appearance sake.
Be real; be transparent all to His glory.
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