Experiencing God's Presence #251

Experiencing God's Presence #251

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

Proverbs 25:2, NKJV

For a God who loves us, pursues us, and calls us to draw near, He seems awfully obscure sometimes. In fact, we experience this seeming contradiction almost constantly. The God who made us for Himself keeps Himself hidden—not completely, of course, having revealed Himself in Scripture and in Jesus, but still invisible to natural eyes. Why? What possible reason could reconcile divine love with divine obscurity?

“I want those who are interested in Me, who respond to the ways I draw them. Do you think I came to you to remain hidden? To keep My ways a mystery? Paul wrote of mysteries that have been revealed in My Son. What makes you think I wouldn’t continue to reveal them to those who seek Me? Have you asked Me? Have you sought the secret counsel of My heart? Or have you just assumed I won’t share the treasures I’ve concealed? Don’t accept the human limitations you think you have, as though My work through you is bound by them. I created you for eternity. I’ve given you a book full of encounters with Me that went well beyond human limits. Whenever you read or hear of them, I’m inviting you to step into what others have experienced.

“I’ve often whispered invitations you haven’t answered. Yes, most of them would have been quite a stretch for you to pursue. But why don’t you stretch? That’s how I measure your hunger. Will you make sacrifices to seek Me? No one finds Me conveniently. Whenever someone seeks Me out, the process is inconvenient. Even when I come to someone who wasn’t seeking Me, the encounter is inconvenient. Either way, it isn’t easy. I’m always testing people in how desperately they want Me. I sort out the semi-serious from the truly serious and reward the latter with My Presence.”

Lord, I’m serious about knowing You better—about seeking until I find. It’s the glory of Your royal children to seek out the things You have concealed. Please reward my search.