I write my devotionals sometimes a week or two in advance of when I post them, so this devotional has been written for about a week now. I am teaching a ladies Bible Study on Wednesday nights called None Like Him, 10 different ways God is different than us. Ironically, next week’s lady’s bible study lesson is about how little we really know God, ourselves and others and todays scheduled bible study ties to that same train of thought.

Getting to know people on a deeper level is not only a beautiful expression of love but also a powerful way to share the good news about Jesus. In this devotional, we will explore the importance of truly knowing others, provide scriptural support, and offer guidance on building meaningful connections, even for introverts, those who have been hurt, or those struggling with trust.

The Bible says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”* — John 13:34 (NIV) I remember a new christian and church member came to my home one day to say she was concerned because she heard other church members say that they loved God but she did not feel love for Him. I responded that she did not love Him YET, because she really did not know Him. I continued to tell her that the more she knew Him the more she would come to love Him. Months later, she dropped by my house again to share the good news with me that she finally understood what it meant to love God! She got to know Him and did indeed come to love Him.

God says we should love others, not just Him so if we are going to really love others that means it is important to get to know them. To effectively share the good news, we must first genuinely understand the people we seek to reach. Deep connections build trust, opening doors to meaningful conversations.

One way to get to know other people is to practice active listening. Truly listen when others speak, seeking to understand their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Ask Questions after listening to what they have to say. Do not throw your experiences or opinions into the conversation when you are trying to get to know them. There will be a time for them to get to know you later.

If you are an introvert, you may find it challenging to initiate conversations, but you thoughtful and empathetic nature can be a powerful tool in getting to know others. Ask God to help you engage in conversations with people you do not know to give you the opportunity to get to know others better to allow you the opportunity to share the gospel with them.

Maybe past hurts can make you hesitant to open up to new relationships. However, God’s love can bring healing and restoration. If you open yourself to love, there is always the possibility for hurt. I would rather to have loved someone and had a little hurt or disappointment than to never have experienced love. Ask God to help you to forget the hurt and to remember the love you have felt in the past and ask God to open the doors to your heart to love others again.

Restoring trust in others can be a gradual process. Surround yourself with a supportive community that demonstrates Christ’s love. Just start small. Ask God to show you ONE person to get to know better then take small steps in building trust and gradually allowing trust to develop naturally over time.

I agree with the author of the book I am teaching for my lady’s bible study. We really do not know God; we do not know ourselves nor do we know our neighbors. So today is the day to get to know someone you don’t know. It can be scary. It can be a risk. BUT it can also be fun, exciting and rewarding and best of all is what God has called us to do. How do I say God has called us to do this? Because He said we are to love others and we can’t love people we don’t know.

Truly knowing others is both a command and an opportunity. It’s an essential step in sharing the good news about Jesus. Whether you’re an introvert, have experienced hurt, or struggle with trust, God’s love and grace can equip you to build meaningful connections. As we follow Christ’s command to love one another and invest in getting to know those around us, we pave the way for the transformative power of the gospel to shine through our relationships.