April 18: FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM
But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
Paul is quoting Isaiah for the benefit of the church in Corinth. He recognized history repeating itself. At the time, Corinth was the most significant city in Greece. As the hub of bustling international commerce, idolatrous religion was practiced on every corner. The local culture was saturated in paganism interlaced with Greek philosophy. Paul’s letters to them address many struggles that naturally followed these believers who had just been called out of pagan society. Like the Egyptians in hot pursuit of the rescued children of Israel, there are always those who chase after believers to furnish human reasoning in the place of attention and allegiance to the Lord.
It was the same in Isaiah’s day. Even as Babylon was closing in upon Judah, the prophet urged the people to look to God for their needs: “The word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8b). The rampant idolatry accepted, even among God’s people, had caused severe spiritual blindness. Their ability to visualize God in His true character was stunted; their ability to visualize what He could accomplish within the hearts of the people was crushed. Through Isaiah, God called for the people to “Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things…By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power…” (v.26)
The Holy Spirit of God is powerful “fuel” for human imaginations sanctified by God. The Third Person of the Godhead not only convicts of sin and leads to repentance, but He also works as a “travel agent” to carry our thinking to new heights. He wants to vanquish our prideful tendency to be critical of others and replace it with visions of potential worthy of our prayerful attention. Every believer is called to the priestly action of intercessory prayer. It is a real test of spiritual focus. . . bringing thoughts under God’s control and using our minds to think and visualize correctly. Before our world was established, He Himself was able to see beyond sin – and the suffering it would cause – all the way through to the Christlikeness of those whose hearts would be redeemed, cleansed, and made new by love for the Savior.
Oh, beloved, history continues to repeat! Satan works to chase love for God right out of the church. Ask the Spirit today for renewal and cleansing; ask Him to stir your pure mind with more love for the Savior than before. Pray specifically that others will come to know and love Him personally. And know this: the greatest and most beautiful things of eternity that you might imagine will, in reality, turn out to be even greater and more beautiful than you ever thought.
Pray… that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:17-21