06/25/2018
How do we come to understand the Word of God, and His will for us? Is it by our own intellect, and through diligent study that we are able to piece it together like a puzzle? Do we somehow find the hidden key within it that allows everything to fall into place so that we can stand back from it and marvel at our ingenuity? No, we understand with our hearts, and not our minds. Our minds barely scratch the surface, but our hearts use them like a scalpel.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
Proverbs 3:5 ESV
I was in elementary school and we were learning how to do long division. Day after day I would go to the chalkboard and stand in front of a problem that my teacher had drawn there. I would puzzle over it and try to understand how to solve it, but for me it remained a mystery. I desperately wanted to understand this concept and yet it alluded me, and each day I failed at it.
Then one day I was called forward, and there on the board was another, and even more daunting, problem. A sense of failure permeated the air and yet I wanted to do this so badly... I stood there for a few moments when suddenly it came to me... at that moment everything made sense... all the pieces fell into place! I worked the problem as though it were trivial and took my seat! The feeling of joy was overwhelming! In that moment of epiphany I had not consciously done anything different than any of the other times I had stood there at the front of the class, but somehow this time was indeed different, and understanding came flooding into me. From that moment on I would shoot my hand up into the air whenever the teacher asked if someone wanted to come to the front and work a problem.
Our understanding of God’s Word and His will for us comes in much the same fashion. How many times have we read the words, and prayed the prayers, but still found ourselves standing empty before the chalkboard? How many times have we thought in our minds that we understood, only to end up in failure? We have all the pieces... the words and prayers... yet we engage only our minds, and do not turn to our hearts. We don’t open the one door through which the Holy Spirit can come, and give us inspiration and understanding. We seek God within our own realm and intellect, and miss the fact that He is the one who gives to us. Faith is partially a quest for knowledge, but God provides the discovery. What we think we know turns out to be woefully deficient when placed before what He wants to reveal to us.
“these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.”
1 Corinthians 2:10 ESV
So as we read, and as we pray we should do so with anticipation; not of our own ability to understand, but in God’s provision of the truth within a His Word, and by way of our prayers. No matter how wise or brilliant we consider ourselves, we are like children before God. We receive a taste of honey on our tongue and says”I know the fruit of the bee!” Yet we don’t see the layers of comb that rest overflowing within the hive.
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV
We come to conclusions the best that we can, but in our own confidence and trust in what we have discerned, there is always flaw and lacking. Only by God’s enlightenment do we see clearly. I read this wonderful statement written by Andrew Murray:
“When your natural understanding grasps a truth from the Word, go before God in dependence and trust. Believe that God can and will make the truth clear and applicable to your life. Persevere in this, and the Holy Spirit will come to your aid and shine His light of understanding into your heart and make the Word the strength of your life.” - Andrew Murray
Are you walking in the dark with a candle to light your way? Are you satisfied with this bit of string and tallow that casts a meager light, or are you ready to seek the greater illumination of God’s light? The Holy Spirit takes our tiny light and magnifies it..,
“The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”
Psalms 119:130 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the truth and understanding you provide me. Thank you Lord for taking the little light of revelation that I am able to garner, and magnifying it beyond my wildest dream; for showing me the depth in a seemingly small drop of water, and the height of a glance into the stars. Thank you Holy Father for revealing to me the fullness of your Word in my life and the breadth of your will for me. How amazing are you, and how insignificant am I before you. Open my eyes Gracious Father, and lead me step by step into the wonder of your mystery. Take my hand as I grope, and run with me; show me the true awe in what I once thought was wondrous. Open my heart Holy Father, and let me lean not on my own understanding. Great are you my God, and endless your amazing inspiration and revelation into your Word. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God; the source of all knowledge, and radiance of understanding.
“Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.”
Psalms 119:144 ESV
Rich Forbes