Ask better questions

The past day or so a loose cough seemed harmless, but it kept me awake all last night and I woke up with a dry, sore throat and feeling weak. Tested. It is not Covid, but it is not pleasant either. After more sleep, a bite of food and lots of water, I still feel yucky. This does not happen very often so my tendency is to feel sorry for myself.

Charnock uses this verse to combat my self-centered whimpering:

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

He goes on to point out that believing God exists is not enough. I must also believe that He rewards those who seek Him. After all, even the demons believe and tremble. (James 2:19) and the whole world knows that God exists:

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Romans 1:19–20)

The problem is not believing in the existence of God. Denying it makes such a person a fool. The problem is denying God’s goodness.

In God’s strange way of revealing truth, He uses today’s devotional to back up what Charnock wrote about more than one hundred years before. The devotional says if I want to see God, my inner questioning must be not about me, or why am I sick, but about Him. How does God feel toward me? Is His love for me warm enough? Has He enough zeal? Does He feel my need deeply enough? Is He sufficiently in earnest? 

These questions reflect anxiety in the human heart, yet by asking them, they expose the irreverence in my heart also. By asking them, I know the answers. Just as I know God exists, I also know that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. My doubts and disappointments at having a miserable day are silenced by turning my focus on who God is and what He has revealed to me. Truth about God grants a profound and absolute conviction that God is and must be enough.

Because God is, all must go right for us, even if I don’t understand it or don’t like it. God lives; His children must be cared for as well. What else could He do, being what He is? Neglect, indifference, forgetfulness, ignorance, are all impossible to God. He knows everything, He cares about everything, He can manage everything, and He loves us. What more could I ask?

When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:21–26)

PRAY: Lord, the cough is less yet the sense of weakness increases. But these wise writers know the truth, the value and benefit, even the reward of seeking You. You don’t always change my situation, but You do change my heart so that I can rejoice in trials and remember that You use all things for my good. Just asking the right questions enables me to rest in Your love and wisdom. Amen!

Thankful that God did not hide . . .

 

In the past few weeks, several television dramas include revelations where a father or a sibling or even a mother reveal themselves to their relatives. Prior to that, the family didn’t know of their existence, or thought they were dead. Sometimes the revelations were shocking and not a cause for joy.

Another much more important revelation is the Creator God revealing Himself to humanity. He did it in several ways, generally in creation, but specifically in speaking:

For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made . . . . (Romans 1:19–20)

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power . . . . (Hebrews 1:1–3)

How did His OT people know it was God speaking? It must have been discernible because those who heard Him did unusual things. Noah built an ark before the weather included rain, just as God told him to do. Abram left his home and went where God told him. He believed the promise of a son, and that son was born when his wife was well past the age of bearing children. Joseph trusted God even under gross and unfair treatment and was eventually a great leaders and in a position to rescue his entire nation. The OT prophets heard God and repeated what they heard, even if it meant personal disaster.

Then God revealed Himself in a Person. He arrived as a babe, grew in wisdom and stature, made a favorable impression as a child, and revealed to the world what Almighty God is like. He was so utterly different than what the religious leaders expected that they killed Him, but He conquered death and lives forever, continuing by His Spirit to reveal God to human hearts.

This God spoke and still speaks in many ways. His people have had visions, were given prophecies, told much, and guided in many ways. They followed because they knew who was talking to them. Much of it was recorded: “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

The Gospels record the life and teaching of Jesus. Acts reveals the spread of His teachings through the apostles and early church, and the epistles tell how to apply His teachings to everyday life. Revelation tells of His triumphant return and the consummation of divine revelation. Both the OT and NT were written so that those of us who were not there in the days of Noah, or Abraham, or Joseph, or David, or the prophets, or Jesus Himself, could know what God wants us to know about Himself. It was done because we would not know God otherwise:

What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him — these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9–10)

As the OT says, God’s Word “is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) and “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29) This is echoed in the NT

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)

God’s revelation of Himself shows me what is missing in my life, what needs fixing, and how to live as a person who trusts Him through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

PRAY: Jesus, I have heard first-hand from those who have had dreams and visions of You, even in these days. Most come from an historical background of hating Christianity and are now believers. Their faith is strong, standing against severe persecution and many have died rather than denounce You. This is the power of You revealing Yourself to them. Most of my vision of You is from Your Word, yet I know that if those who hate You destroyed all Bibles, You are able to sustain Your people with whatever we need to remain faithful to You. You are totally faithful to us — and I stand in awe of You.

PONDER: The wonder of God, holy and powerful and unseen, yet revealing Himself to mere mortals, and not only that, to mere mortals who all sin and fall short of His glory. Be thankful, oh, be thankful.