What The World Knows
Yada yada yada!
If you’re an American, you probably became familiar with the word “yada” thanks to the infamous “Yada” episode on the Jerry Seinfeld T.V. sitcom in the 1990’s. When interjected in conversations, “yada yada yada” cleverly avoids sharing details of intimate encounters. Since then, yada has become common slang used like “blah-blah-blah” to describe meaningless talk.
Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines yada as boring talk or words regarded as too dull or predictable to be worth repeating. But, nothing can be farther from the truth. God’s truth, that is. Even today when people are introduced to YadaFactor for the first time, some impishly grin while others can’t seem to resist blurting out “yada yada yada.” Be prepared fellow yada’ers! Use it as an opportunity to share how you know God intimately and daily. Yada is anything but meaningless talk or improper relationship. God created us for yada relationship with Him and to be in relationship with others too and it’s good!
God Knows
The Torah is the original source of “yada.” It’s a Hebrew word, pronounced “yah-dah,” that translates as know or knowledge. But yada is no ordinary know. It’s also far more than intellectual understanding. Yada is not just a head stuffed with the information of geniuses’ or bleary-eyed students cramming for final exams. Yada means being aware in the most intimate relational sense. In the Old Testament it describes husband and wife relationships like how Adam knew Eve. When Paul expresses how he wants to know Jesus in the New Testament, Philippians 3:10, this man’s man and pillar of the faith is talking about having personal intimate yada. Yada relationships involve both head and heart understanding and shared personal experience. Yada is power packed. It’s the superglue of soul intimacy and unity between kindred spirits.
Do You Know?
God created you to know-yada Him. In John 17:3, Jesus identifies eternal life as dependent on our having this yada relationship with God and Jesus. God wants you to know Him. But there’s a problem. Sin keeps imperfect people from having a personal relationship with the perfect God. And you’re not alone in this. The Bible says,
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (Romans 3:23 NLT)
But the Good News of the Gospel is that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save sinners like you and me. Only through Him can we have a personal relationship with God.
In the Bible, Book of John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
Do you want to know God? You respond by receiving Jesus Christ and by trusting Jesus as Savior and Lord.
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” (John 1:12 ESV)
The Bible promises in the Book of Romans “…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9 ESV)
Have you done this? Awesome! You’ve just begun your yada relationship with Jesus.
Know What?
The word “know” in John 17:3 from the Amplified Bible expresses the word know as progressively more intimately getting to know. Like any relationship, it takes time and effort to get to know God and Jesus after your salvation introduction. This relationship includes many, if not all, of the same growing pains and highs and lows as any other relationship. There’s building trust, learning how to hear God’s voice, discovering your love language with God, just to name a few. But because it’s founded on Christ’s love and hopefully motivated by our desire to grow increasingly more in love with Him, this is a match made in heaven. In YadaFactor the three daily commitments to read it, write it, share it (the Bible) keep us growing in intimacy with God and with each other. They are not laws we have to follow but practices that help us persevere, overcome trials, and celebrate triumphs together!
“There’s a difference between knowing God and knowing about God. When you truly know God, you have energy to serve him, boldness to share him, and contentment in him.” ~ Author J.I. Packer
Who Do You Know?
How is your yada relationship with God today?
- I don’t have a personal relationship.
- I would like a personal relationship.
- I have a personal relationship and would like to deepen it.
Let us know how we can help you know Him.
