Devotional Word for Monday, March 30, 2020
We’ve been considering Proverbs 20:12 – The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both. This refers to the proper functioning of those two senses: seeing and hearing. We’ve said this is true in a factual, biological sense. But it also is true in a spiritual sense. The Lord is the One who allows us to perceive spiritual truth.
I mentioned on Friday I had another text to which I wanted to direct our attention in this regard. That text is Hebrews 4:12-13. Let’s read what it says:
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword,
and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow,
and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare
to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Why is it good to have a hearing ear and seeing eye with regard to spiritual matters: because we want to know God and to know that we are known by Him. These verses inform us how well God knows us! Down to the division of joints and marrow, and into the depths of the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. That is both comforting and frightening!
On the one hand, we don’t have to worry about trying to hide something from God: all things are open and laid bare to His eyes. That’s a relief! But wait, on the other hand, He knows me truly. Oh my! Those things I’d never let others see about me, and things about myself I don’t want to face, He knows them. It makes me cringe. But it is the truth! Not only can we not hide things from God, neither can we hide ourselves from God.
If we know such is the case, if our eyes and ears have been opened to understand such is the case, then what ought we to do? We ought to invite God in. Like the Psalmist, we ought to say, Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful or wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. [Ps. 139:23-24] Isn’t that what we in essence are doing with our devotional times? We’re coming before God and His word and saying, “Know me and show me.”
This is a great comfort to us, a great hope for us. It is true not only for our devotional time with the Lord, but is right and true all day every day. There’s no time when He is on vacation. He doesn’t practice social distancing. He knows us and invites us to know that He knows us. Psalm 63:8 is always good to keep in mind: Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Take that in. Seek to put it in practice. Trust. Pour out. At all times. He is a refuge for us, One to whom we can come with our basest, most wicked thoughts, and One to whom we can come with our overflowing gratitude, and all the points in between those two extremes.
You know, three verses later Hebrews 4 tells us how to apply our knowing and being known by God: Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. [Heb. 4:16] The reason we can have such confidence is because we come in the name of Jesus, who gave Himself for us. The One who spoke into our lives when we were dead in trespasses and sins, and said: Let there be life! Let’s pray: O God, we come to You today in the name of the Lord Jesus. We open our hearts and lives to You. We invite You to come in and know us. Show us any hurtful or wicked way in us. Also, show us how You would have us walk in Your ways today. Be with us and our households. We thank You that You have made us to be part of the Household of Faith. Amen.