I've always liked being "in the know." Conversely, I can't stand being out of the loop.
You know how that feels. You're with a group of people and enjoying good conversation with a steady beat. Someone says something sharp and pithy and you chime in with your own witty sentiments. Everyone either laughs or nods their heads in agreement. Someone else says something full of insight and you appreciate their sound input. Then an amazing thought comes to you and you voice it with well chosen words. And someone else adds to your amazing thought and before you know it you're all tossing an even larger conversation ball around. This type of dialog is sweet and savory.
Then the wind shifts.
Suddenly the very same people you were playing conversation four-square with just a minute ago have moved on to a topic on which you draw a blank. You don't even know who they're referring to, what they're talking about, why they are so passionate, how to contribute. While ago you were enjoying sweet conversation like you'd savor a shared dessert. But now you've lost your fork and can no longer dig in. You're out of the loop.
I hate that feeling.
Have you ever felt out of the loop with God? Have you ever read His Word and stared at the pages like the words were written in some indistinguishable code you couldn't decipher? Or have you ever sat through a sermon and gotten lost somewhere between turning from Leviticus to Habakkuk? Or maybe you've simply listened to other people talk about what God is teaching them, how fascinating they are finding their Bible readings, or what they heard Him say in their quiet time that morning and you've felt...well...out of the loop.
I know I have.
And while I still wander out of the loop occasionally, I now know how to stay in the know with God. He spells it out in His Word.
Who is the man that fears the Lord?
Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.
He himself shall dwell in prosperity,
and his descendants shall inherit the earth.
The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him,
and He will show them His covenant.
(Psalm 25:12-14)
Did you catch that? "The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him." Simply put, God shares the secret things with those who fear Him.
What secret things?
- He told Abraham He would make him a great nation and that nation would spend 400 years in captivity and then come out wealthy.
- He gave Noah the heads up on an impending flood that would destroy the earth and its inhabitants.
- He told Abraham He was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, and even gave him the opportunity to bargain with Him over that decision.
- He put it in Deborah's heart that it was time to go to battle against Israel's enemies.
- He let David know that his house would be on the throne forever.
- He gave Abigail insight into the minds of two men - one a fool and the other the future king of Israel.
- He gave John a glimpse of heaven and things to come.
- He spoke to Joseph in dreams and gave him insight to their meanings.
- He called Samuel in the night and later told him who to choose as king of Israel.
- He translated the writing on the wall for Daniel.
- He sent Peter a dream so he would let up on the legalism.
- He gave Paul visions he couldn't quite put into words, but he knew their meaning.
- And He gave Peter a glimpse of his destiny.
I've heard many people speak about how to find God's will for your life, but the key to finding that "secret information" and other similar juicy facts is not in seeking the knowledge, but in seeking the One who holds the knowledge. When we draw close to God, in reverence and acknowledgment of who He is, He slowly but surely discloses more and more to us.
I don't know exactly what He'll let you in on, but I know what He's taught me over time. He's shown me more of His character and His ways. He's given me insight about undesirable alliances, questionable teachers, deceptive character, and out-and-out lies. He's let me in on times when my children were being deceptive so I could catch them red-handed. He's also shown me hidden or dormant talents in other people so I could encourage them to use them. In other words, He's given me a dose of godly discernment at just the right times.
He's also affirmed His promises, reminded me of His provision, convicted me of "small" and almost invisible sins, shone a light on my path, and called me in certain directions.
I can't boast about these "secrets" that God has shared with me because He's more than willing to share similar secrets with anyone who fears Him, esteems Him rightly. Quite simply, there are some things God holds in a closed hand. They are not for everybody. But they are for everybody who asks Him with reverence and respect.
Today God invites us into the inner circle. We don't have to be out of the loop with Him. He has written His law on our hearts, given us a new spirit, and sent the Holy Spirit to indwell and guide us. He has given us His preserved and holy and infallible Word. He has invited us into His holy dwelling place for sweet and personal communion. And He has offered to share His secrets with us.
Want to know a secret? Draw near to God, sweet friend, with reverence and awe. But draw near.Labels: Walk Through the Bible