Can we really know God? Can we truly claim that we understand God? Is there ever a time when we have arrived? Paul did not think so.
Romans 11:33–36 (NIV84)
Doxology
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
There are riches for us in the knowledge and experience of God. However, those riches are in the deep, deep places. As born again believers with the indwelling Holy Spirit, there is a deep place in us. It cries out to God. “Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. ” (Psalm 42:7, NIV84) In the deep place, God speaks into the depth He has placed in us. “but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. ” (1 Corinthians 2:10–13, NIV84)
Paul continues to show us that no one has arrived. “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” Our whole lifetime is spent learning and growing. As we learn and grow, we change. Our lives ought to look more and more like Jesus as we begin to learn and understand the mind of the Lord.
There are some who might not they have arrived with their words, but their actions speak otherwise. They criticize and judge the walk of other believers. When they see a mistake that they believe they cannot make, they pass judgment. Their words seek to prove themselves right. Instead of comparing their walk to the walk of Jesus, they compare themselves to other people. They have failed to understand the depth of God. I have no time to criticize the walk of other Christians or to judge them. I hear the deep crying to deep. I hear Jesus calling me to spend more time with Him.
In the depth of God, I learn the unfathomable mercy of God. In the depth of God, I see the greatness of His Love. In the deep places, I learn a deeper surrender. In the deep places, compassion, forgiveness, mercy, grace, love, peace and joy triumph. In the deep places, my superficial agendas mean nothing. In the deep places, I learn God’s purpose, I experience God’s heart. In the deep places, my transformation into the character of Jesus also empowers me to walk in the mission of Jesus.
Paul understood that he had not arrived. I also have not arrived. And because I have not arrived, I am passionately pursuing HIM with all that is in me.
I welcome with open arms anyone hungry for the deep. I will do all I can to encourage others in their pursuit of the depth of God’s love.
There is an old hymn that expresses the depth well.
O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
1. O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me,
Is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward
To Thy glorious rest above!
2. O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth,
Changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones,
Died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth,
Watcheth o’er them from the throne!
3. O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Love of every love the best!
‘Tis an ocean vast of blessing,
‘Tis a haven sweet of rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
‘Tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory,
For it lifts me up to Thee!
In the deep places of God’s love is the fulfillment of every promise of God. Healing is in the deep. Joy is in the deep. Love is in the deep. Provision is in the deep. Victory is in the deep. All these promises are in the deep places because the deep is all about an intimate relationship with God. Knowing God and walking with Him in the deep mean that all He is, all He has promised and all He has spoken about us is reality.
Your answer lies in the deep.
