So it's 1:15 am - New Years Eve 2014. I haven't been able to sleep the past couple of nights because no sooner does my head hit the pillow than my mind comes alive, and there I lay thinking about the upcoming year and the adventures that lie ahead. I have tomorrow off work so I'm going to let it run loose - maybe I will stumble upon something genius!
I'm trying this new thing called "Listening and hearing" It's where I quiet my thoughts long enough to listen to God, which must then be followed by hearing. It's one thing to listen, it's another to then hear. My mom used to try to explain that to me... I didn't get it, but now I do!
To listen to someone is to let them have their turn speaking.
To hear them, is to not only hear the sound of their voice, but hear the heart of what they're saying.
I still struggle to hear the heart of God's voice sometimes. This is because my perception of His heart has been influenced by the filters of this world, religion and past experiences. He is kindly tearing down misconceptions and reestablishing Himself in my life! I am so grateful that he never gives up or quits on us!
Have you ever had one of those moments where you realise that you believed something subconsiously? One of those "oooooooooohhhhh" moments where suddenly a lot of things in your life make sense!
That happened to me yesterday morning. I was discussing my inadequacies with God and I decided to try the listen/hear thing.
I was reminded of that phrase that I have heard so many times " When God looks at you, He doesn't see you, He sees Jesus"
I quickly jumped to the conclusion that that was what God was telling me in that moment! I felt prompted to look up the verse, so I did... and that's when hearing happened. I can't find that verse in the bible.
(disclaimer on the following: this is not some theological study I have done, but rather a personal revelation which applies to the way I previously interpreted that phrase)
I DID however, in my findings, find this:
Heb 4:12-13- “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”
as well as this:
2 Cor 5:21 - "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
So everything is laid bare before Him, nothing is hidden. I don't need to be hidden from God - Jesus doesn't have to defend my sinful soul from God. Because of what Jesus did, I become the righteousness of God!
When God looks at me, he doesn't "see Jesus and not me". He sees me - the righteousness of Christ - BECAUSE of Jesus (2Cor 5:21)"
It is easier to live in hidden sin, shame, guilt and condemnation, when I believe that God can't look at me because of my sin - kinda like we're hiding from a parent behind a big brother.
But holy conviction happens when I believe that I am seen, known and loved completely and fully by God!
If the veil was torn when Jesus died on the cross, and we were given access to approach the throne of grace with boldness, why then would Jesus Himself become a veil between us and God?
The veil once torn, is torn forever!
#amen