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It is the good pleasure of God, to bless you, even as it is written – May the Lord bless you from Zion; May you see the goodness of Jerusalem all the days of your life. [Psalm 128:5] He blesses you, as He shines His light upon you, to minister into your circumstance, as it has been recorded in the scriptures to stand timeless and true – May the Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord shine His light on you, And be gracious unto you; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace. [Numbers 6:25,26] It is the light of the gospel, the true light that enlightens any man that He shines on you, that you may be enlightened and transformed, to walk in His ways, by doing His will – For the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, has shone in our hearts to give the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ. [2 Corinthians 4:6] It comes as a revelation knowledge of Him in your heart, your spirit, that leads to a realization of it in your life. The dramatic encounter that took place in the life of the apostle Paul, a revelation of Christ, of who He was, in a light that blinded him, to revolutionize his life, from then on is a vivid testimony of it. [Acts 9:3-9] Thus began Paul’s journey of progressive knowledge of knowing the Lord intimately from then on, knowing Him more and having tasted and experienced Him in his life, later he was able to declare to Timothy with utmost confidence – I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that Day, what has been entrusted to me. [2 Timothy 1:12] And Paul knew how unworthy of it all he was in his own merit, as he goes on to write to the Galatian church, describing in the process his response to it.
God’s revelation & Paul’s response –
IBut when He who had set me apart before I was born by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son to me. [Galatians 1:15] Paul knew without a doubt, that it was the sheer grace of God, and because it brought pleasure to Him, that the revelation of Christ had come to him. And it is the same in your life and mine; a truth for which we ought to be forever grateful and thankful to God. The sad fact is that a person could have been privileged to be born in a Christian home, and yet go through life without experiencing Christ. It is also so very true that whether it is physical healing, or material needs being met miraculously, one can experience the goodness of God, without experiencing Him. And one can also be very intellectual, or spiritually powerful by tradition, even as the Pharisees were without having experienced the Risen King in their lives.
Revelation by His grace :
It is almost always a small minority, and invariably the ones who are simple and humble in their hearts, even as little children are, who receive a revelation of who Christ is, to experience His beauty and power in their lives. It is the truth that caused the Lord to rejoice, and give thanks unto His Father, saying, ‘I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and the understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was pleasing in your sight. [Matthew 11:25,26] The importance of grace that makes you humble, and more grace that keeps you humble that you may receive a revelation from God, concerning Himself that you may realize it in your life, cannot be over-emphasized. For, you and I did not do anything to qualify for it.
Chosen – before you were born:
You were chosen by God even before you were formed in your mother’s womb. And when you are able to grasp the magnitude and significance of it, your response to it cannot be anything but what is right and pleasing in His sight!
Revelation because HE loves you:
IThe one who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me, is loved by My Father, and I will reveal Myself to you. [John 14:21] The God who is love, reveals Himself to you, out of His love for you. He gives, because of His love for you, and paradoxical though it may sound, He also withholds because of His love for you. For, He withheld the punishment for sin that was rightfully our due, and by laying it upon His Son, He has given, undeserving though we were of it, redemption, all by His grace and love.
You are HIS special dwelling place!-
And in order that you may experience the blessing of knowing Him more and more, that you may be enlightened and transformed by the renewing of your mind, He comes to dwell in you, make you His home, His special dwelling place that He may never leave or forsake you. As Moses declared about himself and the chosen people of Israel though they were then in the wilderness, the middle of nowhere, you are indeed special because the presence of God is with you and in you always, in the highs and lows of your life. You are never alone, even if the circumstances of life may cause you to feel empty and helpless. For, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to Him, and make our home with him. [John 14:23] Even in a human relationship, as one very well knows, it is in living with a person in close proximity, continually that revelation of who he is becomes your knowledge and experience. And what is incomparably higher and greater is the blessing of God, that is His presence with you and in you, revealing Himself to you, walking with you, talking with you, along life’s narrow way, that you may reign in life in Christ Jesus. The people who opposed Isaac many times, ultimately came to him in order to make peace with him saying that they had clearly seen that God Himself was with him. [Genesis 26:29]
Your home – a sanctuary:
A person who does not know the Lord as his personal Savior, on coming to your home ought to experience the presence of God, for your home is in itself a sanctuary, where every meal is a sacrament. It is the scene where the gospel unfolds before you saying, And when He [Jesus] returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that He was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And He was preaching the word to them. [Mark 2:1,2] The Lord Jesus is in your house, no matter the size of it. Where the King dwells, makes it a palace; and you yourself are the temple of God, for the Spirit is in you, forever. And since He is the All-knowing God, you have a great advantage, for whatever may be your occupation, you can be empowered in it as none other, overcoming hindrances to shine for His glory.
Known – by the Good Shepherd:
I am the Good Shepherd; I know my own, and my own know Me. [John 10:14] He knows you; and how comforting and strengthening this truth is, for knowing one’s own self, what lies hidden or buried, often seems so difficult. And trusting and resting on His word opens up to you the possibility of knowing God. For, the Lord goes on to say, Just as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father…[John 10:15] On the Lord’s side, knowing God has been made complete. May it be your prayer therefore, that you may know Him more and more. On the mountain of God it shall be taken care of, was the revelation that became a realization for Abraham, as what was hidden, the ram in the thicket became visible. Today, mountain-like problems can surround you; but they will melt like wax as you know and walk in the realization of the presence of God that engulfs you. And if He is for you, who indeed can be against you?
Giving and receiving;
The Christian life is all about giving and receiving from God. And the greatest blessing that is yours is knowing Him, and being known by Him. His hand stretches forth to graciously give, for it pleases Him to reveal Himself to you, a revelation of Himself. And it calls forth from you in loving reciprocation, an immediate response, by opening your hand in faith to receive, even as the apostle Paul did – I did not immediately consult with any flesh and blood, but went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. [Galatians 1:16,17] There was no going after a human opinion after the monumental encounter that altered him forever, as Paul chose to respond immediately to the revelation of God, to know Him more and more. And it is what needs to happen even in you, in responding to what He reveals to you primarily through His word, for as it is written in the scriptures, the moment you are awake, He speaks with you. He lives with you. And one word from Him will direct your entire day. As you give thanks unto the Father, for the word that He has spoken to you this day, may the God who is pleased to reveal His Son in you, all by His grace and love for you, help you to overcome Lame excuses, laziness or apathy, so that you may respond rightly, as you embark on the journey of knowing Him, more and more to experience Him in your life, in every circumstance, the trivial and the complicated. He will keep His eye upon you to counsel you, and take you by your right hand to lead you from where you are to where He wants you to be. In the Name of Christ Jesus Amen.
