It's Perfectly Clear to the Lord

"...but then I shall know just as I also am known." (See 1 Corinthians 13:12.)

It is frightening for most people to realize that God knows you through and through! They feel uneasy and even threatened by such knowledge. People wear masks to conceal their true character, and pretend to be one way while living another.

However, for the child of God, to be known by Him is the greatest encouragement in all the world. We can live a lifetime interacting with people who do not really know us, much less understand us; but, God knows and understands -- and still loves us!

Psalm 139:1, "O Lord, You have searched me and known me."

Hebrews 4:13, "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."

Psalm 44:21, "Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart."

Jeremiah 17:10, "I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings."

1 Chronicles 28:9, "For the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts."

Psalm 38:9, "Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You."

The Lord loves me and completely understands me. I am flooded with confident tranquility as I absorb this idea. He alone considers every outside force in my life that has caused me to be who I am. He knows my genetic makeup, and He knows precisely why I am the unique, special person I am. Consequently, He alone can properly appraise my heart and actions.

The Living Bible paraphrases our verse in the this way, "But then I will see everything clearly, just as clearly as God sees into my heart right now."

Lord Jesus, I trust the way you see me. Thank you for your love. Amen.

Access by Faith in Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 13:12, "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."

Concerning our understanding of the love of Christ, we see through a veil. This is because we are sinful, and He is pure and sinless. We serve a God Who is wholly good and just, and Who is completely void of spot or stain. We want to know as much as we can so that we can be like Christ, but we are not allowed to look at Him because of our sin. We dwell in these mortal "tents" and to behold the full, glorious knowledge of the love of Christ is something that we are destined to someday experience, but not now.

King David expressed this idea in Psalm 17:15, "As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness."

Because of all this, it is only dimly that we can now perceive the supreme perfection of His wonderful, matchless love. Still, the hope within us is kindled and burns brightly with expectation that one day we will comprehend all things because we will be in His likeness.

Even though we may feel constricted in our knowledge, we are never limited in our access to our Heavenly Father. The veil that once prohibited us from His presence is torn and put away. By faith, we may approach Him through Jesus Christ. This wonderful news may escape our mental comprehension level, but we do understand by faith.

Mark 15:38, "Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom."

2 Corinthians 3:16, 18, "Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."

Becoming Christlike is a progression, and it is not dependent upon how much we know; it is dependent on how much we trust.

Love, Karen

Putting Away Childish Things

1 Corinthians 13:11, "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

A new-born baby cries because he or she needs something. The mother is quick to meet the needs of her infant whether it be a diaper change, a feeding, or affection. When the baby becomes a toddler, some of his tears may mean that he has a desire rather than an actual need. The parents must distinguish the difference, because the child does not know that everything he wants may not be good for him. And so, the parents spend the rest of his childhood training him to look outside of himself. They begin to discipline the youngster when he displays selfishness, disobedience, and destructive behavior.

By the time the youth has become a man or woman, childish ways are put away. The adult has God-given responsibilities, maybe a spouse, children and a job. Grown-ups will be tempted to revert to juvenile behavior, but they must resist self-indulgence and deliberately choose the way of charity.

Paul speaks very matter-of-factly, as if the whole procedure is a natural step, even simple. We know that it is not. The only simplicity lies in remembering that our Heavenly Father is always there for us. It is through Him that we keep on the narrow path and grow as Christians. We have not achieved a permanent grown-up status just because we call ourselves adults. We always must run like a child to our Lord.

He will discipline us, love us, and deliver us from our bad behavior, if we ask Him. He always knows that everything we want may not be good for us. He reminds us to look outside of ourselves, and He will spend the rest of our lives nurturing us.

Lord, help me leave my childish ways behind. I want to spend my time looking out to the needs of others, not floundering in self-centeredness. Thank you for holding me up and walking with me on the way. Amen.

Love, Karen

Growing Up in Christ

The definition of our English word "perfect" is "to be entirely without fault or defect." However, in our text it doesn't mean that at all! The New Testament meaning describes a person that is mature or full grown.

"But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away."

1 Corinthians 14:20, "Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature."

Colossians 1:28, "Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus."

James 3:2, "For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body."

The distinct mark of a mature Christian is the ability to convey genuine love. What does it look like? Paul has itemized love's characteristics and has painstakingly described how it will show up in our conduct.

A perfect man is not one without fault or defect: a perfect man is one who is maturing in his walk with Lord.

Lord, please don't give up on me. Forgive me when my attitude is wrong. Teach me to show genuine love, and help me to grow up in you. Amen.

Keeping the Proper Perspective

"But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away," 1 Corinthians 13:10.

Now, we are toward the end of Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians, and we understand that Paul has gently scolded the Corinthians for immature behavior. They had compared spiritual gifts, which only had produced strife, contention, and division. The Corinthian church had forgotten to seek God's will and had embraced worldly wisdom. This had caused confusion and disorganization.

In their youthful state, the Christians in Corinth rated a person's value to the church by that person's gifts. The Lord spoke to them, as He speaks to you and me, utilizing Paul's pen. He is telling us that we clamor over things that are only temporal. He tells us that love is greater than all things combined. He exhorts us to put the temporal in the proper perspective, and He reminds us that we would be much wiser to put our energy into something that is not fleeting, but will contribute to our heavenly existence.

The Lord promises that death will be swallowed up in victory. In the same way, the partial will be swallowed up in perfection.

Ephesians 4:11-15, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head --Christ."

Lord, help me to focus upon you, the Giver of all good gifts. Help me to walk in the Spirit, and not according to my flesh. Above all, teach me to love. Amen.