As I look back in my journal, the size of two books now, I see a pattern:

I think I know, but I do not “know” at all. I stare at events like a painting and distinguish primary figures while completely missing the background that makes the picture come alive.

I never see the complete picture in any circumstance — but I focus upon one element at a time. The exhaustive whole is lost to me. I have no capacity to absorb the micro and macro whole. I may think I know, but I don’t.

With this in mind, I view the political and social landscape with skepticism. The elements are presented as information, but God alone knows the “end from the beginning.” I can be deceived. I can easily be distracted, manipulated and jerked around by my own definition of logic. I’m at the mercy of my limited experience and intellect.

My fulfillment lies, not in knowing it all, but in being known by God.

Personal devotions this morning: I Cor. 2:9-15

…“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. [The Holy Spirit sees the tiniest details of my life within the big picture.]

11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. [Stop trying to be God. I will NEVER see the whole picture.]

12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. [God gives me a portion of understanding for each day. It is enough.]

13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. [The Holy Spirit is teaching me to speak His way, and this is on-the-job training, so be careful.] 

14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. [I cannot expect someone who has not received the Holy Spirit to understand why I do what I do, because they have no spiritual understanding.]

15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, [I confidently make choices and decisions while being open to the Holy Spirit’s correction moment-by-moment. Some decisions make no sense to unbelievers.]

16 for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. [No other “mind” gives me peace. No other way of thinking fits my lifestyle. The intimacy of knowing Jesus and being known by him belongs to me. I am content.] 

RD