The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"He Who Would Be Found"
As referenced in yesterday's message, God's infinite knowledge and foreknowledge stand in complete contrast to our limited understanding. He knows far more about the things that will happen than we even begin to know about the things that have happened. This presses us to the quest mandated by Solomon's directive: "With all thy getting, get understanding," namely God's understanding (Proverbs 4:7).
Thankfully, our Lord has provided a repository of His knowledge in the Scriptures. We can seek to know Him and His truth therein, being keenly aware that even a long lifetime of reading, pondering, and study will yield only a small portion of that which can be known. Indeed, the more one knows of Biblical truth, the more one realizes the eternal vastness of that which can and will be known by those who trust the Lord Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul confessed of himself and of all who seek the Lord and His truth: "nothing yet as he ought to know" (I Corinthians 8:2). Thus, regardless of how much we have sought the Lord of the Word in the Word of the Lord, the Holy Spirit beckons our hearts and minds to believe that clearer and brighter light awaits. "But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18).
Upon first consideration, we likely think of ourselves and of how much we must devote ourselves to the quest. Such consideration is proper, but it cannot be primary. We will never seek as commanded if we focus on whatever we must do to find. We rather establish and maintain focus on the wonder of He who would be found. If we become convinced that God greatly desires that we know Him, and that in such personal and doctrinal knowledge we find the richest of all treasures, our quest becomes the inevitable response of our heart. "When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face, my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek" (Psalm 27:8). Can God and His truth be known? Does He desire that we know such grace? Will His Spirit lead and enable us to know Him and understand the truth of His Word? Answer these questions correctly in the God-centered terms they imply, and any perceived diligence required on our part dissolves in the wonder of realizing how much He desires that we know Him, and "the unsearchable riches of Christ" that await us (Ephesians 3:8).
"He who would be found" blesses us with the gift and privilege of seeking Him today. It is that, of course. Yes, gift and privilege far more characterize our search than duty and diligence. The necessary application of ourselves is simply the fruit of discovering the wondrous gift that awaits all who realize that only One can fill and fulfill our hearts. The prophet well knew such grace, and we close with his realization that God and His Word can be known, and how glorious is the discovery…
"Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart."
(Jeremiah 15:16)
"For Thou art my hope, O Lord God. Thou art my trust from my youth."
(Psalm 71:5)
Weekly Memory Verse
"I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin."
(Psalm 32:5)
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