The Christian story is really hard to believe. Why would anyone believe it? There are just so many parts to it that are incredible, beyond the part about Jesus being killed and then coming back to life. For example, why would God, the all-powerful Creator of everything, want to make people? And why, once we had turned out to be so selfish and greedy, didn’t He scrap the whole project and start fresh? Why go through the trouble of redeeming us from our crappiness? And why did our redemption require Jesus to die? And before that, what’s with all the sacrificial animals? So many questions!
That’s why I like today’s verse. I like the part about God revealing Himself to those that keep His commands. Keeping God’s commands shows God that I’m interested in participating in the love relationship He wants to have with me. It’s my meager contribution. (Meager because His commands are so simple: love God and love people.)
So after my meager contribution, the love relationship can begin. God loves me and will reveal Himself to me. How wonderful is that!
You might be thinking that you still have lots of questions. Why hasn’t God revealed Himself yet? Well, like with any intimate relationship, you don’t learn everything about the other person all at once. That would be overwhelming and might make you think twice about them. The truth of each other is shared over the course of time as you spend time with each other and go through various experiences together.
It’s the same with God. He reveals Himself to me slowly, over time, as needed. I learn more as I spend time with Him, talk to Him, read what He wrote, and try out His advice. He never gives me more than I can handle. And some questions won’t be answered until He comes again. But for now, I absolutely know what I need to know about God. He is good. He is trustworthy. He is love. He is beautiful. He is funny, clever, wise… And He also likes to be mysterious.
Dear God,
Thank you so much for your promise to reveal yourself to me now and in the future, when I can stop seeing through a glass darkly but see you face to face. I love what I know about you. And I want to know more. I trust you to show me what I need when I need it. Remind me to simple obey by loving.
CamDevo 