Delighting in the LORD

Though God has graciously revealed Himself to people, there is infinitely more to God than we know.  The almighty God who is unapproachable in glory has spoken to us in His word, by voice booming from the heavens, in person by Jesus Christ and to our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  God's personal revelation to those who trust Him is as uniquely tailored by God as each person He has created.

Have you noticed when people have an amazing experience they not only desire others to share that experience but to enjoy it as much as they did?  While this can sometimes happen, other times these desires are unfulfilled by both parties.  I had a friend who loved roller coasters, and I wasn't so sure.  As a young teen I would be fine to go on less "extreme" rides on offer, by my friend wasn't having it.  "You're going on every single ride in this park," my friend said.  And I did.  I don't know if I enjoyed them as much as he did from the start, but by the end I was the one saying to the uninitiated, "You have to try this one.  You'll love it."  We do the same with quality restaurants, books and travel destinations.  If we enjoy exceptional customer service, value and results, we are the ones urging others to experience it too.  When our expectations are built up by others, later comparing our experiences with them can lead to feeling let down.

I have observed a similar thing among followers of Jesus Christ.  We have had personal experiences with God Who has changed our lives and perspective, and we want others to also know and receive as we have.  The one who is miraculously healed desires others would miraculously be healed too.  If we have been given a clear directive from God in response to prayer and fasting, we share our testimony of God's faithfulness to exhort others to do the same.  When we have been gifted to teach, speak in tongues and interpret after we asked God, we desire the same for others.  Moses and Paul both said they wished all would prophesy (Num. 11:29; 1 Cor. 13:5), and I can identify with their desire God's people would desire all gifts He has for them.  At the same time, I have come to realise God is not limited or governed by our desires for others, for His plans are greater than my plans and dreams.  He chooses to reveal Himself and gift believers according to His will, and His ways indeed are past finding out.

This fervent desire for others to experience God, His presence and guidance can ironically lead to divisions apart from love and maturity.  The one who heard God speak in an audible voice can be puffed up with pride, and the one who has never heard God speak with an audible voice can feel slighted and left out.  This one might even question the validity of the claim and become suspicious or bitter.  Paul asked rhetorically in 1 Corinthians 12:29-30:  "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?"  The answer is clearly no.  The context is the church, the body of Christ, is comprised of different members with various roles with unique gifts and experiences.  Christians are united with Christ as one yet this does not mean we will share the same gifts or personal revelations of our glorious God.

How many have shipwrecked on the rock of differing personal experiences, questioning their own salvation or the experiences of others because they were not identical!  How many believers have sought particular gifts or manifestations of the Holy Spirit as the badge of their own spiritual authenticity rather than the edification of the church and the glory of the God Who gifts people according to His will!  How often spiritual exercises and ceremony become more about the honour of men than to honour God who has redeemed and reconciled us unto Himself.  Paul wrote we ought to covet the best spiritual gifts and showed how walking in faith, hope and love trumps all these temporal manifestations that will one day fade away.  All God gives is good, and we ought to value the Giver over all gifts.  Seek the LORD instead of an experience; make your requests known to God and rejoice in Him rather than lamenting what is not.

God is most gracious to reveal Himself to us and also reveal our growing need for God to be spiritually fruitful and faithful.  Delight in the experience of knowing God and consider how He has revealed Himself to you in a unique, meaningful way.  Comparing your experiences with others can take the focus off God who we ought to delight in and leads to arrogance and disappointment.  Praise the LORD He is faithful and generous with Himself with all people, and what more can God give than all?