I realized something interesting over the weekend.
I'm looking at purchasing a new helmet. I've been eyeballing this one on an online website for some time now.
However I know of a store locally that sells this same helmet so I decided to go there and try it on.
Here's the interesting part, even though the price is the same in the store as it is online, I decided to purchase it online instead of at the local store.
Why is that? It's the same price, and with the store purchase I could have brought it home that evening. Buying it online means it will take several days before I have it.
The reason is this, one of the owners of the online store does YouTube video reviews of almost all of the products they sell. He is informative and passionate about motorcycling. Having watched many videos over the years, I feel like I have built up some trust in this person. And with that trust comes a certain amount of loyalty.
The difference is the time spent and the relationship built. The man I never met in person, yet spent time with, won my loyalty over a person I didn't knew at all. I am actually willing to be inconvenienced and wait.
And that is the key to building a trusted relationship with the Lord. Time spent in his word, time spent reading what he teaches about life, years of seeing that he can be trusted. I know him. Loyalty is formed there, the relationship is nurtured.
" 'Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."
Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"
Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." John 14:19-23 (NIV)
