ECCLESIASTES 8:16-17 – When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one’s eyes see sleep, then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.”
THEME OF THE DAY: GOD’S REVEALING GRACE. Did we notice the repeated principle found in today’s scripture? That is a good lesson in and of itself. When reading our Bibles, look for repeated words and sentences. The emphasis by using repetition is to tell us, “Pay attention. This is very important.” On a side but related note, take time soon and read this portion of scripture – Luke 14:25-33. In this section, Jesus is telling us the cost of being His disciple. As we read those verses, pay attention to the repeated phrase and its location. It will challenge our thinking and understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Oh, by the way, the repeated phrase is “cannot be my disciple.”
In today’s scripture, the repeated words and principle are “cannot find out, will not find out, cannot find it out.” The lesson implied is about God’s revealing grace. Take a moment right now and ponder this truth – if God did not choose to reveal Himself to humanity, there would be no Christianity, no salvation, and the first time we would be exposed to who God is would be in His holy Presence at Judgment to receive deserved wrath. John the Baptist affirmed God is the Revealer of Himself – John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven .(John 3:27).
When it comes to God’s revealing grace, He determined to do so in the most marvelous and remarkable way; He sent His Son the Lord Jesus. Two specific passages of scripture point to this incredible truth – No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known (John 1:18) and Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:1-3). Don’t lose sight of what God has done. He so loved the world that He gave His only beloved Son to reveal Himself to humanity and then by that revelation rescue a people from their sins and reconcile them to Himself.
As Christians, let’s strive to keep our hearts in awe of God, not first as the God of saving faith, but of revealing grace. Without the latter, there is no former!
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for making Yourself known to me.”
QUOTE: “Thank God for being a God who reveals Himself. If He did not, we would never know and love Him”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim