Understanding
Yesterday's post was long and meandering, just as much of my time being led by the Spirit is. Proverbs 25:2 says, "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out." How privileged I feel to be able to have the time and resources available to search, pray, read and study for lengthy amounts of time.
Like I pointed out yesterday, its difficult for me to ascertain a beginning point. But I think where I tried to begin yesterday, will serve to make the point I'm trying to make.
1 John 5:20 says, "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true--in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."
This verse is one of many that reinforces that understanding comes from God. Jesus himself said in Matthew 11:25 “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children." Elsewhere He says, "I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
My husband will often remark that I'm a "math person". Whereas he is a "literary person". We are opposites through and through. And even though whenever he's telling someone about my mathematical mindset, its usually to make the point that I will struggle to explain a mathematical concept because I just "get it" whenever it comes to math and numbers. This is why I struggle to teach, well anything. But here my logical and mathematical mindset wants to "show my work" whenever I'm trying to reveal the way the Spirit guides me to understanding. It is very hard for me to condense it all in order to make the point or share what's been revealed. I want you to know I'm not pulling this out of thin air. I want you to believe. I want to walk you through it all step-by-step so that we can "reason together".
Yesterday while trying to share with my husband the analogy of the Exodus came up. When the Israelites left Egypt for the promised land, they didn't go straight there. They meandered through the wilderness. The destination was important. But so was the journey. Whenever one verse whispers the truth of a different verse and one devotion speaks to that same truth, and another verse comes into play, how can I leave any of them out? They all serve a purpose.
So, strap on your sandals, and lets get ready to walk, shall we?
On Saturday, March 29th, I sat down to study Revelation 16, in preparation for Sunday School the next morning. I wrote in my prayer journal:
From here I ended up doing a brief word study for the word "understand" used here in Matthew 13. The Lord often draws me deeper whenever I go to the original language and read the nuanced meanings that we might not pick up on whenever only reading it in English. Here the word translated as "understand" is the Greek word suniémi and means to "bring together" in the mind. Or as we might say, "connect the dots" or maybe even "line of reasoning". I also got goose bumps because in the Hebrew culture, names were significant. They were seen as a "one-word summation of the totality of a person." (Chad Bird, Unveiling Mercy - Feb 6th) My name, Rebekah, in Hebrew means "to bind" "to tie firmly" "to secure" from the root רָבַק (ravak), meaning "to tie firmly" or "to secure". You can easily see the connection between my name and the word used for understanding here. I also found it interesting that the word for peace in the Greek also carries this meaning of joining into a whole. So we might say that the understanding we receive from God provides peace. And as an extra bonus we can gain more insight into my inability to condense what I share because I don't want to leave any holes, my name, is also a part of my personality. It also explains why I struggle to "let things go". But I digress.
I used to have a preacher that when giving his sermon, would offer a piece of information and then say, "let's put a pin in that" for a minute. It's here I want to give you something to "pin". This parable about understanding is followed by another parable found in Matthew 13:24-30. I will reference this parable later. It may even end up being in a different post after this one. I just want to draw your attention to the proximity between this parable and the one right before it.
So back to the parable in the beginning of Matthew 13, this same teaching principle that was found in verse 12 is found later in Matthew 25:29 and Mark 4:25 , where I make note of a something I had scribbled in my margin. #useitorloseit
Back to my prayer journal:
"So again, "piggy-backing" off of yesterday's lesson is the charge to be sincere in my faith & to have a willingness, eagerness & earnestness by applying the teaching and instruction You give. While lying in bed with my stomach massager, before getting up and coming in here, I read some of this chapter (Rev 16) and remembered what I learned Tuesday about gratitude and reverence to Your sovereignty in difficult times in regard to verses 5 and 7 It reminded me of the Jewish Blessing, "Who is the True Judge" which also brings to mind Job's sincerity of faith in the midst of affliction seen in 1:20-22 & 2:10 - which was after he received his own painful sores like what we're reading in Rev 16:2. The cursing of the people in verses 9&10 are reminiscent of Job's wife in 2:9
She says, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.”
There are a couple chapters in the New Testament that I think should be read alongside Revelation. They are, 1 Thessalonians 5 which has the heading, 'The Day of the Lord' and 2 Peter 2 which has the heading, 'Deliverance From False Prophets' But for now, let's put another pin in it.
5:40 a.m. I journal the following:
"You have revealed much to me this morning but the "icing on the cake" just came as I got to verse 15,“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!” and the word awake reminded me of a previous lesson You gave me through John Parsons and I blogged about it. He mentions that Torah says in Exodus 24:12 "come up to me and wait there" but it could actually be better translated "and be there". He remarks that the sages say God is asking Moses to be present, awake, and to be utterly focused - with "all your heart, soul, and might". Further teaching that to receive God's revelation (understanding) we need to show up - "to be there" - earnestly seeking his (YOUR) heart."
8:20 a.m.
"I love the way You continue to reveal to me insights to the reading in Revelation. This time in verse 16 through today's Unveiling Mercy devotion which brought up the command at the last supper in Matthew 26:27-28,"And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Here we see a stark contrast between drinking Christ's blood which signifies cleansing redemption vs the blood of divine retribution. My Joni's devotion points out through Jonah 2:8 "Those who "shamar" (keep, guard, observe, give heed) to idols [self?] "azab" (forsake, leave, abandon, let go) Your loving-devotion/mercy/grace" We get what we cling to. We cling to You or we cling to something else. We get what we desire most. (Matt 6:21) Open our eyes - mine -theirs - all of us, so that we understand we can't have it both ways. We must "Choose this day who we will serve! "Work out our own salvation with fear and trembling!" (Phil 2:12; Heb 12:21, 28; Job 1:20; Joshua 24:14-15) BibleHub puts it this way, "By clinging to idols, individuals abandon the true source of love & faithfulness" We see this in Revelation 2:4 "You have abandoned your first love" Yesterday in this same devotional, Brother Lawrence said "Make immediately a holy and firm resolution never more to willfully forget him (You)" Help us to see there is nothing this world or people or any entity can offer us that doesn't originate from You. You are the source! Why would we go anywhere else? "To whom would we go? For You have the words of eternal life! (John 6:68) AMEN!
Tomorrow is when real revelation begins.... and its been a crazy, intense, ride! But for now, make camp. We'll resume our journey tomorrow.
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