A seeming paradox?
"For 'who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?' But we have the mind of Christ." I Cor. 2:16
*We can't know:
-"How unsearchable are His [God's] judgments and His ways past finding out!" Rom.11:33
-"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,' says the LORD." Is. 55:8
*We can know:
-"But we have the mind of Christ." I Cor. 2:16b
How is this knowledge/(or lack thereof) reconciled?
*"No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:15
-We don't know it all--and never will. Yet God in His gracious wisdom has revealed through Christ and His Word all that we need to know for "life and godliness." (2 Pet. 1:3) As frustrating as a lack of knowledge can sometimes be, the lack is not a mistake on God's part. He has promised not to withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly. (Ps. 84:11b) Everything given, the Spirit helps us further understand the truths as we seek to know Christ more.
Others Have Said It Better
- "Yet the duties God requires of us are not in proportion to the strength we possess in ourselves. Rather, they are proportional to the resources available to us in Christ. We do not have the ability in ourselves to accomplish the least of God's tasks. This is the law of grace. When we recognize it is impossible for us to perform a duty in our own strength, we will discover the secret of its accomplishment. But alas, this is a secret we often fail to discover." -John Owen
- "Forgiveness is the most God-like thing you can do." -J. MacArthur
The Progression of Wisdom
Proverbs 2:1-9 offers a progression of wisdom that gives clarity to the abridged "seek and you shall find" mentality. Solomon instructs his son to receive my words. . . treasure my commands. . . incline your ear to wisdom. . . apply your heart to understanding. . . cry out for discernment. . . lift up your voice for understanding. . . seek her as silver. . . search for her as for hidden treasures. We would expect the next verse to read something to the effect of "Then you will find wisdom." But that's not what follows. He writes, Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. This understanding serves as a necessary prerequisite to obtaining wisdom. Without intimate knowledge of God, the pursuit of "wisdom" is a false and godless effort.
But once the seeker gains knowledge and understanding of God, wisdom inevitably follows. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly. He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. These gifts flow from the One we come to know. And the progression concludes with verse 9: Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.
I seek--God illumines--God gives--I understand.
But once the seeker gains knowledge and understanding of God, wisdom inevitably follows. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly. He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. These gifts flow from the One we come to know. And the progression concludes with verse 9: Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.
I seek--God illumines--God gives--I understand.
About Me
- an30na
- I am a college graduate with a bachelors in Piano Pedagogy from Northland Baptist Bible College, and am nearly half way through my MM in Piano Performance at JMU. I love to accompany and to serve and honor the Lord through opportunities to play. I love "awakening the dawn" to see the sunrise, running, especially hills, and am almost always up for a good mental challenge.
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