Proverbs Chapter 15: Verses 11-12 (NIV)
Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord—
how much more do human hearts!
Mockers resent correction,
so they avoid the wise.
Acts Chapter 14: Verses 8-9 (NIV)
In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed.
Solomon reminds us that nothing is hidden from God – He knows everything, good and bad. That can seem daunting at times, but the good thing about that, to me anyway, is that we don’t need to stay away from God’s presence out of guilt and shame. He knows it all anyway, and He still wants us to come and ask for the forgiveness that is available to us.
The man at Lystra, I am sure, was not expecting to be healed that day, but as he listened to Paul preach, the words affected his heart. It was the Holy Spirit who revealed to Paul that he should command the man to stand up. It would also have been the Holy Spirit who had totally believed the words Paul preached. The faith and trust came when the man had to put that faith into practice, and stand up when he was told to. Something which he had never done before.
God knows our hearts and He knows whether we believe and trust Him enough to do something we’ve never done before if He asks us to. Will we be brave and obedient enough to stand up, and do it?
Dear Lord,
Help me never to stay away from You, but be open enough to come before You when I need to seek Your forgiveness. Help me to be obedient and do what You ask, even if it’s something I’ve never done before. May I be trusting enough to believe that You will move on my behalf. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.