Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Keeping first things first”
Our Bible verse for today: “Can you fathom the depths of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens – what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol – what can you know?” Job 11:7-8 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Getting to know God takes time.”
Almost twenty years ago I came across a little book which radically altered my thinking about God, and my approach to Him. The title was “Intimacy with the Almighty”, written by Chuck Swindoll. In it Chuck wrote about the rewards which come to the person who will invest the time to develop a deep and intimate relationship with God. He wrote,
“Deep things are intriguing. Deep jungles. Deep water. Deep caves and canyons. Deep thoughts and conversations. There is nothing like depth to make us dissatisfied with superficial, shallow things. Once we have delved below the surface and had a taste of the marvels and mysteries of the deep, we realize the value of taking the time and going to the trouble of plumbing those depths.”
While that is certainly true of jungles and water and caves and canyons, it is even truer of God. Chuck goes on, “This is especially true in the spiritual realm. God invites us to go deeper rather than to be content with surface matters … Some of His best truths, like priceless treasures, are hidden in depths most folks never take the time to search out. Our loss! Patiently and graciously He waits to reveal insights and dimensions of truth to those who care enough to probe, to examine, to ponder.”
But exploring the depths of God takes time. It requires intentional and determined effort. Going deeper with God will have to be more important to us than anything else we could otherwise spend that time on. That would include sleeping later in the morning, reading the newspaper rather than your Bible, going to the lake rather than going to church, etc.
“As important and intriguing as divine depths might be, they defy discovery by the natural means of our minds. He reserves these things for those whose hearts are completely His … for those who take the time to wait before Him. Only in that way can there be intimacy with the Almighty.”
I encourage you to make your time with God your highest priority every day. If you do, spiritually He will take you to places you never even knew existed.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 