Raised in Sunday School and church I began reading through the Bible each year. I remember checking the little square boxes as I completed the chapters. Later I added intermittent journaling of interesting thoughts I read. I found such satisfaction with God practicing this habit it became my spiritual security blanket. To be candid, it was so comforting I was afraid if I ever stopped doing it I would fall spiritually as other preachers had done.
In my time with God about 15 years ago, a few of David’s words captured my attention. Psalm 9:10 (NLT) Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you. I intuitively sensed God had an important truth here for me. It was the words those who know your name trust in you… that gripped me. I trusted God but not as much as I would like. I was confused because it didn’t appear to say how to trust more. Then it dawned on me, the ‘how to’ was in that verse! My investment to knowing God more fully would result in greater trust. He was inviting me to take initiative to seek to more about who He was; not just His title, gifts or what He said or did. Wow!! My hunger to know God more personally became greater than my fear of falling away from Him. I took the leap, stopped my routine Bible reading and obeyed His gentle whisper to trust Him to keep me close to Him.
I found this principle to be true. If I want more of God I must give Him more of me. That was a bargain so I gladly gave Him more of me. I felt an urgency to discover what a passage was telling me about who God is; His character, values, ways and whatever else He might reveal. These revelations then humbled me, forcing me to acknowledge my total depravity and what I needed to do in response to these findings. To my delight and amazement, I discovered my investment resulted in a deeper love for God and His Word—greater than I could have imagined. It was almost like I was born again!!
A Biblical example of this principle was when God told Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28 to …subdue [the earth]; and have dominion over [it]. He didn’t just give them dominion. They had to first invest personal initiative and struggle to subdue it but it was worth it. Then they had to maintain dominion over it. A similar example is when He engaged the Hebrews in the process of learning to know God to truly be God Almighty. Exodus 10:1-2 (ESV) Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may show these signs of mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.” Fascinating! Through passage like these I could see why I’ve had to truly invest myself in seeking.
My habitually reading of the Bible had been vital! It had taught me the balancing essentials that I needed to reduce my chances of misinterpreting what I read. However, I had only skimmed the surface issues of what He said and did, totally missing His ways, values, or character. Life-change has continued to come as I spend time prayerfully meditating on His Word. His Spirit frequently responds by revealing more of who God is and His heart, not just what He did/does or doesn’t do. My trust level, joy, peace and personal confidence are all significantly stronger today. So is my passion for Him and His Word. My future blogs will consist of more of my discoveries when reflecting on His Word.
Thank you Bob.
Great word and insight to truth! Knowing the Lord is the way to trust Him more.
Thank you Pastor Bob!