His Thoughts are Higher
July 1, 2023 2023-07-01 8:02His Thoughts are Higher
Revlee His thoughts are higher.
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. (NIV)
The Bible says that Adam and Eve were naked and not ashamed. This is often portrayed with literal nakedness, but it was also symbolic nakedness. Before God, they were fully seen and had nothing in them that they would feel shame. Theirs was pure innocence.
Some wonder how Adam and Eve could have so easily fallen into the temptation presented by the Ancient Serpent. If God walked and talked with them, giving them all they needed and more, it seems absurd they would reject and rebel against the benevolence of God. How is that possible?
The tree they ate from was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Until they, their minds were incapable of any thought outside of what was good. Wickedness and evil were foreign thoughts to them in the same way a man is unable to conceive the experience of pregnancy and childbirth. Deception was an unknown concept. Afterward, their minds were open to sin. It was in them so they hid in shame.
In the same way that Adam and Eve were unable to conceive wickedness and deception in the Garden of Eden, we are unable to conceive pure righteousness. Adam and Eve were also unable to perceive this characteristic of God, but in their innocence, they were closer to understanding than we are now in our sinful state. How can we pursue something when we can’t even fathom its existence?
God gave Israel the Ten Commandments to help the people understand pure righteousness, but they were still unable to do so. When Christ came, the revelation of pure righteousness emanated more vividly. Still, however, not even the disciples could understand the teachings of pure righteousness. They often rebuked Christ and His way of doing things. God’s thoughts are above our thoughts. His ways are above our ways.
Jesus, however, died and rose that we might qualify for the gift of the Holy Spirit by faith. The Spirit within us reveals to us the thoughts of God. The Bible says the Spirit gives us the mind of Christ that we might know His thoughts. Purity of righteousness has been given to us through the purity of wisdom taught by the Spirit. Only in the Spirit can we fathom the mysteries of God’s thoughts.
Prayer: Lord, let me immerse myself in the presence of the Spirit to hear Your thoughts and to know Your ways. Amen.
Comments (4)
Susan Dale Kleckner
Enjoying your devotionals they certainly help one grow closer to the Lord thank you
Pastor Lee
Thank you Susan!
Tim Boller
Pastor thank you for these daily devotionals I appreciate it. What is your perspective on the lent tradition, is it biblical?
Pastor Lee
Hey Tim, great question. Lent was a tradition that started centuries after Christ. It is from Ash Wednesday until Easter which is 40 days if you subtract the Sundays. The purpose of Ash Wednesday is to remind people of the need to repent of sin. This is not a bad thing at all though it is not done according to Scripture but the Catholic church and some orthodox Christian churches. It was done in the tradition of some in the Bible such as Daniel where they would put on sackcloth and ashes to repent of their sin and draw near to God. Ash Wednesday begins the Lenten season where Catholics and some Christians participate in self-denial or moderation of certain things or habits as a reminder of the need for repentance of sin. Again, a Lenten season is not prescribed in Scripture in the same way baptism, the Lord’s Supper, or daily prayer. Nevertheless, Christians of all different denominations will participate in 40 days of prayer or something similar. The Catholic church however has maintained this same tradition for hundreds of years. Like all rituals and sacraments, if the practices of the Lenten season are carried out as a reminder of what is already happening in the heart, it is good. If the practices are seen as a way to garner blessings from God, it is not good. And of course, repentance needs to be something done all year round. The Catholic church believes this also and Lenten is simply an emphasis placed upon repentance during this time of year.
Catholics do not eat meat during this time as a reminder of Christ’s death for their sins which happened on a Friday. I hope that helps.