January 5th
Knowing the Heart of God
1 Corinthians 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
The Inner Thoughts of God
Who knows the inner thoughts of a man’s heart, except the spirit of the man himself? Likewise, no man knows the inner thoughts of God, except for the Spirit of God.
A man knows what is inside his own heart, mind, and spirit, even if only his own heart. In the same way, God knows what is in His own heart and thoughts, but no man knows. The only One Who knows what is in God’s heart is the Spirit of God within Him.
The Spirit of God
This is a simple way that Paul uses to illustrate that the Spirit of God knows everything about the inward thoughts of God, which he refers to as the things of God. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit searches the deep things of God. He knows the very thoughts of God, for He is Himself God.
Can We Really Know God?
Many believe that it is hard to know God, that His wisdom is so unsearchable and beyond finding out. There is some truth, of course, to the inexhaustible nature of what may be known of Him. He is infinite, and what we may know of Him never runs out.
But the notion that God is above being known by men does not seem to line up with Scripture. In fact, it appears to be very much His will that men come to know Him intimately, and so much His will that He would send His Own Son to die for our sins, and send His Own Spirit to dwell in our hearts, to give us the assistance needed to reach that knowledge of Him.
The Hidden Wisdom
Paul points out that we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is of God, so that we might have knowledge of what God has given us in Christ. The purpose of the Spirit of God in our lives, is, according to Jesus, to guide us into all truth, the truth that we could not otherwise understand or have knowledge of. Paul, in this same chapter, refers to this wisdom as the hidden wisdom, a wisdom that cannot be received by men without the help of the Spirit of God.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Spiritually Discerned
The things of God are not comprehended by the natural, earthly man, who does not have the Spirit of God. He cannot know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But those who have received the Spirit of God can understand the things of God.
Take time today to meditate in the word of God. Read it. Think about what you’re reading. Ponder it in your heart. The Spirit of God searches the deep things of God while we are searching for truth, and He will reveal that truth to us, as we ponder and think upon God’s words. He is the Spirit of Truth, and He delights in guiding us into the truth.