Full Disclosure
The only way to gain the full benefit of God’s presence is to get it from the source, go directly to the well. Any discussion about God is simply a priming of the pump. Without regular visits to it, or the necessary priming of it, this well pump won’t yield the quenching that you want, when you need it the most. If you expect to gain trust in God by watching, waiting, listening, attending, reading or viewing stories, lectures or discussions, you’ll soon be disappointed. I’ve read about a lot of famous historical figures, interesting and valuable facts, but to be given the rare opportunity to listen to and dialog with them, observe their nature and behavior first hand, would be essential to really getting to know those figures. The same is true of God. I thought that I knew a lot about God, but in time came to learn that I didn’t really know Him at all. I once believed that I could never live up to God’s expectations, but through His Word, I eventually came to realize that God knew my entire life before I’d even taken my first breath. Knowing everything I would ever be in life, eliminates any need for expectations. Then I concluded that God loves religious people more than others, because they profess so loudly that God talks to them all the time! Then I learned that God gave himself for each of us and too everyone of us (Jesus and the Holy Spirit) who chooses him and is always trying to talk with all of us. Most of us aren’t listening. I also concluded that the meek and humble rarely brag about their relationship with God, for they know all too deeply how much of God’s immeasurable Grace is necessary for anyone to even have a relationship with Him. The difference that I see between religious Christians and spiritual Christians is the same difference that is illustrated between talking the talk and walking the walk. God already knows our condition of heart (our walk), but He still wants to hear it.
I know now that God is love and grace. I’m amazed by just how patient He is with His beloved children. His Fatherly wisdom is perfect and His justice is balanced. His nature is giving while His will is forgiving. He is ever watchful, never overly needy, always prepared and remarkably protective of His accepting, yet chosen children. To know God personally is to accept His generosity, counsel and when necessary His justice. To really know God is to constantly aspire to become like Him. This includes sacrificing whatever is necessary to accomplish that end. In this effort toward full disclosure, I beg you not to simply accept what I write but I ask you to go directly to His well every day and allow God, not his representatives to quench your daily thirst. An unprimed pump requires some action from us, but the benefits are eternally refreshing.
JC Calkins with COMMON SENSE 4 UNCOMMON PEOPLE
No Comments