Jesus is the true light of the world (John 8:12, John 12:46). He is the source of all that is good and light.
But the Bible also says that, as His children, we are the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14-16)
It reminds me of the moon. The moon cannot make its own light. The moon reflects the light from the sun. Likewise, I shine because God lives in me and His light shines from me.
I want to be a spotlight – pointing people to Jesus, the source of the light coming from me 👉 ✝️
“Glow In The Dark” by Jason Gray
Sometimes the world feels like a mess Full of drama, full of stress And life puts a fist right in your ribs You can hide if you choose to And no one would even blame you Or you can let them see how you deal with it
That even in the darkest place His love can make you radiate
Doesn’t matter how deep, how dark the night is Keep hoping, keep on shining And they’ll see His light burning in your heart And if the road gets rough, just keep your head up Let the world see what you’re made of That His love’s alive in your deepest parts Like a flame, like a burning star you can shine right where you are He made you to glow in the dark
Don’t be ashamed of your past If you’re shattered like a piece of glass The more broke you are the more the light gets through Show your wounds and your flaws Show them why you still need the cross Let them see the work He’s doing in you
That even in the darkest place His love can make you radiate
Doesn’t matter how deep, how dark the night is Keep hoping, keep on shining And they’ll see His light burning in your heart And if the road gets rough, just keep your head up Let the world see what you’re made of That His love’s alive in your deepest parts Like a flame, like a burning star you can shine right where you are He made you to glow in the dark
Doesn’t matter how deep, how dark the night is Keep hoping, keep on shining And they’ll see His light burning in your heart And if the road gets rough, just keep your head up Let the world see what you’re made of That His love’s alive in your deepest parts Like a flame, like a burning star you can shine right where you are He made you to glow in the dark Glow in the dark
I’m midway through a study of the classic Christian book, The Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer. I’m studying it online with some friends in Asia. These are my notes from week 9. I hope they will bless you. If you would like to join us, please send me a message!
In the past two months, we have already discussed that God is eternal, unchanging, all-knowing, all-wise and omnipotent.
Today we will be studying chapters 13 and 14 of “The Knowledge of the Holy,” where A.W. Tozer teaches that God is transcendent and omnipresent. How wonderful to study God’s transcendence and omnipresence on the same day!
God is transcendent. The word “transcend” reminds me of the more common words “ascend” and “descend.” Ascend (a+scend) means to climb up, while descend (de+scend) means to go down. We can ascend and descend ladders or stairs or mountains.
In Genesis 28:12, Jacob saw a vision of angels ascending and descending on a ladder, and in John 1:51, Jesus tells Nathanael that he will see heaven opened and see angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man.
But transcend means “to rise above or go beyond, to exceed.” A man or a book or a movie might transcend other men or books or movies, yet there will always be a better man, or a better book, or a better movie.
We might think of a goldfish as transcending a single cell amoeba.
We might think of a dolphin as transcending a goldfish.
We might think of young boy transcending a dolphin.
And a grown man transcends a young boy.
Surely the glory of an angel transcends the glory of a man.
But the gap between a single cell amoeba and an angel is small compared to the gap between angels and the Almighty God. Even the most wise, powerful, glorious angel is still a created being. God created the amoeba, the goldfish, the dolphin, the man, and the angel. God designed them in His own creative mind. God created each of them for His purposes. All of these created things are “that-which-is-not-God and can never be God.”
Tozer wrote, God is “exalted far above the created universe.” To exalt means to lift high, to praise, to glorify. In our modern world, people often praise and lift high worldly things.
Who are some people or what are some things that people today wrongly exalt?
God is the only one worthy to be exalted. God is the only one who is worthy of worship and praise. Before building a temple for the Lord, King Solomon said,
“The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him?” (2 Chronicles 2:5-6 ESV)
When Solomon had finished the temple, he worshipped the Lord before all the people of Israel, saying,
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27 ESV)
“神果真住在地上吗？看哪，天和天上的天尚且不足你居住的，何况我所建的这殿呢？”列王纪上 8:27
In our pride, we want God to fit into a little box. We want to live as if God is merely a man, limited in His power, limited in His knowledge, living far away and unconcerned with our lives.
Satan tempted Eve in the garden of Eden, telling her to eat the forbidden fruit. Satan told Eve that if ate the fruit, her “eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5) We, too, want to be “like God.” But none of us can truly be like God, because God is transcendent.
Only God is perfectly transcendent. God rises above everyone and everything. God transcends space and time. God transcends wisdom and knowledge. As His faithful children, we must humble ourselves and worship Him.
Think of this – this Almighty, Eternal, Unchanging, Self-existent, Self-sustaining God hears our prayers!
In Psalm 34, Solomon’s father, King David, worshipped God saying,
“My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!”
Psalm 34:2-3
How can you praise and exalt God today? Let’s pause right now to praise and exalt God together!
This almighty, eternal, unchanging, self-existent, self-sufficient, transcendent God is also close and personal. God is omnipresent. Omni- means “all,” and “present” means “here, close to, next to.”
No matter where you go – in the middle of the greatest desert, at the top of the most remote mountain peak, at the deepest depth of the ocean, to the farthest reach of outer space – God is there. God is with me here in my little town in America and God is also with you in your big city on the other side the globe.
As Tozer writes, “there is no place in heaven or earth or hell where men may hide from His presence.”
“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:7-10 ESV)
I’m midway through a study of the classic Christian book, The Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer. I’m studying it online with some friends in Asia. These are my notes from week 7. I hope they will bless you. If you would like to join us, please send me a message!
In the past few weeks, we have already discussed that God is eternal and unchanging as well as all-knowing and all-wise. Today we will be studying the twelfth chapter of “The Knowledge of the Holy,” where A.W. Tozer teaches that God is omnipotent.
God is omnipotent. Omni- means “all” and potent means “powerful,” so omnipotent means “all-powerful” or “almighty.”
“Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.” (Psalm 147:5-6 ESV) ‘我们的主为大，最有能力； 他的智慧无法测度。 耶和华扶持谦卑人， 将恶人倾覆于地。 ‘ 诗篇 147:5-6
God has created man in His image, so people have some wisdom, and some power, but only God is all-wise and all-powerful. The BEST way that we can have wisdom and power is to ask God! God can give us His wisdom and power.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV) ‘我还有末了的话：你们要靠着主，倚赖他的大能大力作刚强的人。要穿戴上帝 所赐 的全副军装，就能抵挡魔鬼的诡计。 ‘ 以弗所书 6:10-11
Last week, when we were talking about wisdom, sister Beth encouraged us to be faithful to obey all that God tells us to do. She also encouraged us that we must trust God, even when we do not reach those wise goals.
Sisters, even if we make the right choices, we may not reach our goals. We can apply for 100 jobs, but not get hired for any of them. We can study five hours every night and still not get a perfect 100% score on the college exam.
We can read the Bible to our children every morning and night, pray with them before every meal, take them to church every Sunday, and memorize hundreds of Bible verses with them, and yet still we cannot guarantee that they will give their lives to Jesus. We are not all-powerful. Only God is ALMIGHTY. Only God can open the eyes of the blind and save those who are dead.
“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”” (Mark 10:27) “耶稣看着他们，说：「在人是不能，在上帝却不然，因为上帝凡事都能。」” 马可福音 10:27
It is so important to remember that God is ALL-POWERFUL! God is OMNIPOTENT. God is ALMIGHTY!
If God was all-knowing and all-wise, but not all-powerful, then we could not fully trust Him.
If God knew what the best plan was, but He didn’t have the power to complete that plan, then we could not fully trust Him.
• What if God wanted to create the world in six days, but He wasn’t strong enough to do it? (Read Genesis 1-2 and Romans 1:20) • What if God wanted Sarah to have a baby in her old age, but He was unable to conceive the child in her womb? (Read Genesis 18:13-14) • What if God wanted to rescue the Israelites from Egypt, but He couldn’t part the Red Sea? (Read Exodus 14)
But, sisters, God DID create the world in six days. God DID give Sarah a baby when she was long past the age of bearing a child. God DID part the Red Sea allowing the Israelites to cross on dry land!
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27 ESV) ‘「我是耶和华，是凡有血气者的 神，岂有我难成的事吗？ ‘ 耶利米书 32:27
Can you think of a time when God did something that looked impossible?
When has God answered your prayers that your faith grew?
We put our faith into practice by praying for our needs, trusting in God’s perfect wisdom and infinite power.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31) “两个麻雀不是卖一分银子吗？若是你们的父不许，一个也不能掉在地上；就是你们的头发也都被数过了。 所以，不要惧怕，你们比许多麻雀还贵重！」” 马太福音 10:29-31
How can we pray for you today?
How can we trust our cares to our Father who cares for us with all wisdom and power?
Let’s sing and pray together.
How Great Thou Art sung by Alan Jackson
Oh, Lord my God When I in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made I see the stars I hear the rollin’ thunder Thy power throughout The universe displayed Then sings my soul My Savior God to Thee How great thou Art How great thou Art Then sings my soul My Savior God, to Thee How great thou Art How great thou Art
When Christ shall come, With shouts of acclamation And take me home What joy shall fill my heart? Then I shall bow In humble adoration And there proclaim, my God How great Thou Art Then sings my soul My Savior God, to Thee How great thou Art How great thou Art Then sings my soul My Savior God, to Thee How great thou Art How great thou Art How great Thou Art How great Thou Art
I’m midway through a study of the classic Christian book, The Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer. I’m studying it online with some friends in Asia. These are my notes from week 6. I hope they will bless you. If you would like to join us, please send me a message!
In the eleventh chapter of “The Knowledge of the Holy,” A.W. Tozer teaches that God is all-wise.
Last week we talked about the idea that God is all-knowing or “omniscient.” How isall-knowing different from all-wise? Wisdom and knowledge are not the same. A person can be wise, but not knowledgeable, and a person can be knowledgeable, but not wise. God is both all-knowing and all-wise.
“Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” Daniel 2:20-21 ”但以理 说：「上帝的名是应当称颂的！从亘古直到永远，因为智慧能力都属乎他。他改变时候、日期，废王，立王，将智慧赐与智慧人，将知识赐与聪明人.” 但以理书 2:20-21
Tozer defines wisdom as “the ability to devise perfect ends, and to achieve those ends by the perfect means.” Wisdom is knowing the best way to reach the best goals. In the Bible, true wisdom is always used to describe what is pure, loving, and good, while knowledge can include both good things and evil things.
“… I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.” (Romans 16:19b) “…我愿意你们在善上聪明，在恶上愚拙。” 罗马书 16:19
Who is the wisest person that you know? What makes them so wise? Can you give an example of their wisdom?
Believing that God is both all-knowing and all-wise helps us to trust Him. God knows everything. Nothing is hidden from Him, whether good or bad. God knows everything in every city and every country and every person and animal and insect all over the world! And God is also perfectly wise! God always knows what will bring Him the most glory and achieve the highest good for the greatest number of people for the longest time. WOW!
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (Proverbs 9:10) “敬畏耶和华是智慧的开端； 认识至圣者便是聪明。” 箴言 9:10
Things here on earth often seem wrong to us. We think that God isn’t watching. We feel like God has forgotten us. We think that we would have a better plan.
I would have pulled Joseph out of the pit, but in God’s perfect wisdom, He had a better plan.
I would have pulled Jesus off the cross, but in God’s perfect wisdom, He had a better plan.
Sometimes I want to force my husband to do whatever seems right to me. I need to remember that God is all-wise, but I am not.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12) ‘有一条路，人以为正， 至终成为死亡之路。 ‘ 箴言 14:12
When has something seemed wrong to you, but later you found out it was good? Or when has something seemed right to you, but later you found out it was wrong?
To study more about wisdom, you can read through Proverbs, one chapter a day. There are 31 chapters, so you could read one chapter for every day of the month! While you read, look for how the words “wise” or “wisdom” are used. What do you learn from your study?
Jesus said That if I thirst I should come to him No one else can satisfy I should come to him Jesus said If I am weak I should come to him No one else can be my strength I should come to him For the Lord is good and faithful He will keep us day and night We can always run to Jesus Jesus, strong and kind Jesus said That if I fear I should come to him No one else can be my shield I should come to him For the Lord is good and faithful He will keep us day and night We can always run to Jesus Jesus, strong and kind Jesus said if I am lost He will come to me And he showed me on that cross He will come to me For the Lord is good and faithful He will keep us day and night We can always run to Jesus Jesus, strong and kind
I’m midway through a study of the classic Christian book, The Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer. I’m studying it online with some friends in Asia. These are my notes from week 5. I hope they will bless you. If you would like to join us, please send me a message!
In the ninth and tenth chapters of “The Knowledge of the Holy,” A.W. Tozer teaches that God is immutable and omniscient.
Immutable means unchanging. “Im-“ is a prefix meaning “not” or “opposite of,” and “mutate” means “to change.”
Maybe you have heard the word “mutate” before. The verb mutate is related to “mutant,” like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, turtles that began as ordinary turtles but mutated to be walking, talking, ninja turtles.
In many ways, our changing world is getting worse year after year. Our broken world suffers from earthquakes, hurricanes, droughts, and snowstorms. Our broken bodies suffer from cancer and viruses.
But we can also be thankful that God allows us to change! Praise God that we can change! We can be transformed, changed, to be more like Jesus!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 ‘若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人，旧事已过，都变成新的了。 ‘ 哥林多后书 5:17
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 ‘我们众人既然敞着脸得以看见主的荣光，好像从镜子里返照，就变成主的形状，荣上加荣，如同从主的灵变成的。’ 哥林多后书 3:18
How have you changed since you were a child?
How have you changed since becoming a follower of Christ?
God will never mutate. God will never get better and He will never get worse. God is immutable.
God cannot forget His children. God cannot break His promises. He can never love you more or love you less. God’s hatred for sin is immutable, and God’s love for His children is immutable.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 ‘我们不致消灭， 是出于耶和华诸般的慈爱； 是因他的怜悯不致断绝。每早晨，这都是新的； 你的诚实极其广大！ ‘ 耶利米哀歌 3:22-23
God’s immutability is especially great when we remember that God is also omniscient.
Omniscient means all-knowing. “Omni” comes from Latin for “all” and “science” comes from Latin for “knowledge.” Omni + science = omniscience. God already knows everything, so he never needs to learn anything. God knows every language. God knows the answer to every question to every math test, every science test, every history test. No one can teach God anything because He already knows it all!
What is something you would like to learn?
God’s omniscience means we are never hidden from God … and we cannot hide from God.
We can trust that God knows the good deeds that we did that no one else knew. God knows that our hearts were right even if someone said we were wrong. If you are ever punished or imprisoned unjustly, you can trust that God is all-knowing! God knows the thoughts, motives and intentions of our hearts – for good and for bad.
We cannot hide anything from God. God knows our thoughts. God knows when we are lying. No one can hide from God.
“If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” Psalm 139:11-12 ‘我若说：黑暗必定遮蔽我， 我周围的亮光必成为黑夜；黑暗也不能遮蔽我，使你不见， 黑夜却如白昼发亮。 黑暗和光明， 在你看 都是一样。 ‘ 诗篇 139:11-12
When I was about 10 years old, my older sister saved up her money to buy an Atari video game console. Then, my sister told me I had to pay her to play it, maybe $.50 (50 cents) or $1.00 (one dollar). I didn’t want to pay her, so I secretly stole some money from her piggy bank and then gave it to her. I was paying her with the money that I had stolen from her. My sister never knew that I was taking that money, but God did. God knew that I was stealing, and God knew that I was lying.
‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.’ Isaiah 54:10 “大山或可移开，小山或可挪动， 但我的慈爱必不离开你， 我平安 的约也不挪移！” 这是怜悯你的耶和华说的。” 以赛亚书 54:10
Nothing you have ever done is hidden from God, so you do not have to fear that God will suddenly discover something about you and not love you anymore. God knows your thoughts and your actions. You can always confess and repent of your sins to God, because God knows everything you have ever done … and the blood of Jesus is sufficient to cover you.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ‘我们若认自己的罪，上帝是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义。 ‘ 约翰一书 1:9
I am so thankful that God is omniscient, that He knows everything, and that He loves me with an immutable, everlasting, infinite love! Let’s pray together.
Great is Thy Faithfulness – Shane and Shane Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father There is no shadow of turning with Thee Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness Morning by morning new mercies I see All I have needed Thy hand hath provided Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me
I’m midway through a study of the classic Christian book, The Knowledge of the Holy, by A.W. Tozer. I’m studying it online with some friends in Asia. These are my notes from our third week. I hope they will bless you. If you would like to join us, please send me a message!
In the fifth chapter of The Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer discusses the “Self-existence of God.” Self-existence means that God is the One who has always existed, the great “I am.” God has no beginning. God has no origin.
“origin” (noun) – source, where things come from
“Origin” is also a term used in math. The origin on a graph is at (0,0). Everything on a graph is measured relative to the origin, whether positive or negative from that original point.
America has often been called the “Melting Pot of the World,” because it is filled with people from every nation around the globe. In America, people here might ask, “What is your national origin? Where did your family come from?” I would answer that my mother’s family was from Wales and England, and my father’s family was from Germany.
How about you? What is your national origin? Where did your family originate? What is your original hometown?
God didn’t come from anywhere or anyone, rather God is who made everything.
God has no origin, rather God is who made everything.
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
“起初， 神创造天地。” (创世记 1:1)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. “ (John 1:1-3)
When we think about God’s self-existence, we can appreciate even more that God created everything in creation, and we can especially appreciate that God created man in the image of God.
As selfish humans, we do not like someone else to rule over us. Like Eve in the garden of Eden, we want to make our own choices. We may want God to rule over the universe, over the nations, over other people, but we rebel against God ruling over our own lives. This is the essence of sin. Like foolish sheep, we want to go our own way.
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6
“我们都如羊走迷；各人偏行己路； 耶和华使我们众人的罪孽都归在他身上。” (以赛亚书 53:6)
We were created to worship and glorify God. God is our creator, our Father, and our King … but we choose (intentionally or unintentionally) to put ourselves on the throne. We want God to rule “with us,” but we don’t want God to rule “over us.”
Jesus Christ, the Almighty Son of God, lived a sinless life, obeying His Father perfectly, and He wants us to obey Him perfectly. In fact, we will be the most fulfilled in life when we follow Him, rather than our own selfish desires.
As a follower of Jesus Christ and a child of God, we must take ourselves off the throne and give Jesus His rightful place on the throne of our lives. Paul wrote about this in Galatians 2:20.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
Putting God on the throne is easier when we remember that we need God for everything, but God does not need us. The Father and the Son have life in themselves (John 5:26). God has created man for His own good pleasure, not because He needs us. God is the only one who doesn’t need anything outside of Himself to survive.
Chapter 6 is about the “Self-Sufficiency of God.” The word “sufficient” means enough. God is sufficient in Himself. He is self-sufficient. He is enough in Himself. Paul often uses the words “sufficient” and “sufficiency” in 2 Corinthians.
“Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:4-5)
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9a)
“他对我说：「我的恩典够你用的，因为我的能力是在人的软弱上显得完全。” (哥林多后书 12:9)
We are not self-sufficient, but God’s grace is sufficient. His grace is enough. In fact, our need for God draws us closer to Him. All created things need something outside of themselves to survive. All living things need air, water, and food. And all living things need God’s sustaining grace.
Humans are naturally full of pride. We think we can provide for our own needs. We take pride in our self-sufficiency. We don’t want to need other people or God. I remember my little children saying, “I do it myself” when they were trying to feed themselves with a spoon or get a t-shirt over their head.
Additionally, we want to think that God needs us. We take pride in our human accomplishments, wrongly thinking God needs our help to achieve His plans.
No, sisters. No. God does not need us to accomplish His purposes. Rather, it is an honor and joy to serve God. It is an honor and joy to take up our cross and follow Him. It is an honor and joy to take up the yoke of Christ for the glory of God and the good of mankind. Not because we need to repay Him for a gift, but because we are grateful to be used by Him.
Where do you struggle with feeling like you are self-sufficient and don’t need any help? Where do you need God’s help today? How can you praise God today for His self-sufficiency and His provision for your every need?
Your grace is sufficient for me Your strength is made perfect When I am weak And all that I cling to, I lay at Your feet Your grace is sufficient for me
Your grace is sufficient for me Your strength is made perfect When I am weak And all that I cling to, I lay at Your feet Your grace is sufficient for me
Your grace is sufficient for me Your strength is made perfect When I am weak All that I cling to, I lay at Your feet Your grace is sufficient, Your grace is sufficient, Your grace is sufficient for me
To see the Lord in the promised land Wherein all sin’s pearly gates look bland And what was once a pearl, now sand That blows away, that blows away In light of Him
“Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from your testimonies.” Psalm 119:157 ESV
Excerpt from The Insanity of God – Nik Ripken
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:10-16 ESV
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Please commit to pray daily for our brothers and sisters who are living under daily persecution, as well as those brothers and sisters who remain silent despite their freedom. God help us all.
Father, strengthen us. Grow our faith. Help us to be confirmed to the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to love others, to seek out the lost, to share the good news of the gospel for those who are perishing.
Let us not be ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Lord, you have not given us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Let us be willing to share in suffering for the gospel by the power You give us, for You saved us and called us to a HOLY calling, not because of our works but because of Your own purpose and grace, which You gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began! Thank You for giving us Your grace. Thank You for giving us purpose! Thank You for your LOVE!
Have you ever seen my favorite TV couple, Chip and Joanna Gaines, in their most excellent show, “Fixer Upper?”
This amazingly talented couple help their clients select a home in need of help. Then, the Gaines complete an incredible rehab on these “needy” houses. The show culminates on the last day with a big “reveal” to their clients of their new, improved house.
The highlight of the show is the moment this giant, billboard-sized poster of the “before” image of the house is opened up to reveal the “new and improved” exterior of the home as the client stands in awe and tears of amazement.
As I was working on my previous blog post “Hidden in Plain Sight,” I was prompted to do a little word study into this word, “REVEAL.”
I confess, I am a bit of a “word junkie.” I love to study where words came from, their roots. So when I see a word with a prefix like “re-,” I sometimes get this sneaky desire to see where that word came from, especially when the word isn’t obvious. What is a “veal” anyway? Surely not a baby calf!
It turns out that “-veal” actually comes from VEIL. Like a bride removing her veil, revealing her face to her excited groom, to reveal comes from the French and Latin for unveil, to remove the VEIL.
How cool is that?
Thank You, Lord, for opening my eyes, for removing the veil that prevented me from seeing you. Lord, help me to be waiting and watching for the day Jesus is REVEALED, the day when I will see Him face to face.
Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 2 Corinthians 3:12-16 ESV
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV
You know those “Hidden Pictures” puzzles that Highlight magazine is famous for? Those pictures where common objects are “hidden” in plain sight, but you can’t see them and you have to search the picture for them.
Well, I’ve noticed that life can be a lot like that. I’ve noticed that my life is filled with these seemingly obvious sins that I am absolutely oblivious to. Sins that I am totally unaware of, but to someone standing next to me, they appear glaringly obvious.
The other day (5 years ago now!) I was recording a couple little videos of my oldest daughter singing in church. (Yes, I know. Videotaping during church. I know. Sorry. That’s not the point here. I don’t need anyone to point that one out now. Hang with me here.) Anyway when I played the videos back, in 3 of the 4 recordings can you guess what really stands out? Me. My voice. And it’s not pretty, friends. Not pretty.
And there it was. There are dozens of things that I am doing every single day that I am unable to see. Why? Because they have not yet been revealed to me. That ugly tone of voice. That bitterness. That pride.
Friends, do you know how much I have GROWN in the last 26 years I have been a follower of Jesus Christ? How MUCH I have changed? How MANY blind spots have been revealed to me in the past two decades?
And yet, I suddenly realized how many blind spots are still there. And, once again, God humbled me. And once again, I heard my Savior’s loving voice, gently urging me, “Kim, you have so far yet to go.”
And I was encouraged to give more grace, to have more patience and to be that much quicker to forgive a wrong, because the Lord daily has grace for me and patience with me. He has forgiven me soo much.
Thank you, Father, for not revealing the depth of my wickedness all at once, but rather moment by moment opening my eyes to the next thing, day by day conforming me more and more to the image of Your Son.
How is God opening your eyes to those unseen sins today? Pray for Him to show them to you.
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24 ESV)
This post is still true today. God is still faithfully, gently opening my eyes!
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