Saturday, November 11, 2017

The Saturday Series - 40 - "How Little We See"


(Friends:  Most Saturdays for the duration of this year, I plan on sharing a message that relates to the character and nature of God, and our response thereunto.  I hope you will find it helpful, and as always, thanks for allowing us to send the devotionals to you.  Glen).


The Saturday Series - 40

"How Little We See"


    The Gospel accounts of our Lord's doings comprise less than 1% of the acts, words, and events that actually took place during His lifetime.  Scripture provides limited details of His birth, early childhood, and an event that occurred during the twelfth year of His life.  Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John then chronicle a relatively small amount of history regarding the three years of ministry that led to the Savior's redeeming death, resurrection, and ascension.  

    "There are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written" (John 21:25).

   We know very little about the earthly life of the Lord Jesus.  We know enough, of course, as the Holy Spirit perfectly inspired on the pages of Scripture the events, deeds, and words that made possible our salvation, relationship with God, and a life lived for His glory.  Thousands upon thousands of moments nevertheless escape our consideration.  What did the Lord Jesus say, other than what the Bible records?  Who did He meet?  Where did He go?  What conversations with disciples or others do not grace the Biblical record?  What miracles might He have performed for which no report exists?  These and other inquiries go unanswered, leaving us with far more mystery than illumination regarding the Lord's life and doings.

   The same holds true in our lives.  Some of our Lord's doings on our behalf seem quite obvious.  He answers prayers in a precise and detailed manner.  Promises of His Word grace our lives to such measure and degree that God and His way sometimes seem obvious.  Occurrences that others might call coincidence, we know to be coordination, Divine coordination.  However, the vast majority of our Lord's doings on our behalf take place under the surface, behind the scenes, and above the clouds.  As with the Gospel accounts of the Lord's life, we likely know far less than 1% of all that God does for us, in us, and through us to fulfill His purposes in our lives.  "Lo, He goeth by me, but I see Him not.  He passeth on also, but I perceive Him not" (Job 9:11).  

   This says much to us not only about God's way, but about His character and nature.  He does what He does for reasons that do not involve any selfish need for the approval of others.  Indeed, His command that we not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing proceeds from His own selfless disposition (Matthew 6:3).  His desire that we acknowledge Him and His works originates in the ultimate fulfillment of His loving purposes, as opposed to any narcissistic yearning to be noticed.  The fact that most of His activities cannot be seen or known confirms that our Heavenly Father does what He does for reasons more glorious and sublime than we often consider.  Ironically, this elicits the desire to know and praise Him far more in the hearts of those who realize how little we see, and how much the limitations reveal of the goodness and greatness of God.

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!"
(Romans 11:33)

Weekly Memory Verse
   For Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with Thee.
(Psalm 5:4)
   

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