Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen
to My word. (John 8:43)
No matter how long or closely we
walk with God, we must guard against the danger of misunderstanding Him. We are
apt to cast the Lord into the cramped mold of our perceptions –
For now we see in a mirror, dimly . . .
(1 Corinthians 13:12a).
We create a god that reflects our
own deficiencies and excesses. We are liable to mistake a forgiving God for
harsh, a loving God as angry, or a merciful Lord as condemning. Why is this?
Mostly, we misjudge the depravity
of our own hearts and our need for communion with Him. We must be determined to
refresh our perspective and renew our minds. We must doggedly guard our hearts
against the relentless bombardment of worldly and fleshly voices! The Word of
the Lord must dwell richly in our heart, lifting us above the din of the devil
and his cohorts. Only then do we come to know God, not just about Him. And when He reveals Himself,
we won’t misunderstand Him, ignore Him, or simply miss Him. Lord, help us!!
