One of the premises on which Facebook operates is the theory of “degrees of separation.” This theory assumes that you and I know somebody who knows somebody, and they in turn, know somebody, etc. There are no more than six degrees of separation, so the theory goes, that separate you and me from any other person on the planet! As a result, I’ve met people on Facebook I probably would have never met otherwise.

This got me thinking as we head into our Annual Meeting of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware: we are all only one degree of separation from Almighty God Himself. The Bible tells us that “there is one God and one mediator between God and men: the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). This is an amazing and incredible reality: Jesus is the only intermediary any of us ever need to connect with God ourselves! It’s all about WHO you know, not WHAT you do.

Now to make the connection is one thing, but to develop the connection is another matter entirely. In order for that to happen, you have to invest in the relationship. You have to spend time with God, just like you would anyone else you wanted to get to know. You have to listen and learn, not just ask and tell. You have to “open up” and be vulnerable for the relationship to deepen. Relationship has to be your top priority.

Connection with God, more than any other person I’ve ever known, has taught me to value the relationship more than the experience. Do you know what I mean by that? Many times relationships are about what we do, where we go, the things we share, etc. With God, the most important thing is who we are, more than what we do! He constantly reminds me that He loves me for who I am. In our productivity-minded world, it is a refreshing reminder that with God BEING is more important than DOING.

But sometimes relationships in my life “go bad.” Something happens to disrupt them, usually something that compromised my trust in the other person. When that happens, it makes me hesitant to trust anyone else, too. God, though, is not like that. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Since He is faithful and reliable, how can we grow to trust Him more? The same way we grow to trust anyone: by spending more time with Him. Getting to know someone better builds trust.

You see, connecting is a choice. With Facebook, I can confirm or ignore every potential relationship presented to me. But even when I choose to confirm that relationship, I only get out of it what I’m willing to put into it. Connection leads to conversation. Conversation leads to cultivation. Cultivation leads to commitment. But it all starts with a choice. Connecting with God, the “friend who sticks closer than a brother,” (Proverbs 18:24), is offered; we must be willing. Connecting has to be intentional.

So, click confirm, not ignore. And certainly don’t “delete.” At this Annual Meeting of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, “connect” with God: get to know Him better, deeper. You’ll be glad you did.