Dear Ones:
What a wonderful event it is when a family member or friend, whom we have not had the privilege to see and speak with for a long time , comes for a visit. What makes such a visit so enjoyable, rewarding, and encouraging is not the gifts that they may bring, or those bestowed by us upon them. No. It is the fellowship, the communion, the sharing of our lives with one another. When was the last time we had such a “visit” from, and with God? It is a simple question, but in our response is revealed how near and dear Christ is to us.
Referring to the seventy years of what is called, “the deportation,” God spoke to Israel through the prophet(s), in particular Jeremiah. He said, “….after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon, I WILL VISIT YOU.” (Jer. 29:10)) Referring to the same event of seventy years, Zechariah writes, “…Cry thou…saying, ‘Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy…I AM RETURNED to Jerusalem with mercies. Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; ‘My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.’ “(Zech.112,14,16,17) What is so significant here is the fact that the Lord has chosen TO VISIT His people in His mercy, and He will accomplish it. Have we come to grips with the fact that this same God desires, and wills to VISIT us? He is always with us, but are we living in the reality of His presence and blessing…knowing His visitation?
If we continue in the passage in Jeremiah, the Lord reveals to them, as He does to us, “…for I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I WILL LISTEN TO YOU. And ye shall seek Me, and FIND ME, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. AND I WILL BE FOUND OF YOU.” (Jer. 29:11-14) If ever there was a passage, or a reason for seeking and finding God, it is revealed to us here. There is nothing so certain that God desires to bless, and this by revealing Himself to the heart, mind, and soul. He can be found! The question is, “Are we truly seeking Him, and this with our whole heart?”
The question now becomes, “How is He truly sought, and truly found?” We have mentioned before how that in Samuel’s day, “…the word of the Lord was very rare in those days, there was not frequent vision,”… that “…the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh BY THE WORD OF THE LORD.” (1 Sam. 3:21) If we would truly seek God, then, let us respect the Word of God, and seek Him there. That is the place of certainty where He speaks, and reveals Himself to the heart. If we would “hear His voice,” let us trust the Spirit of God, who is our Teacher, to lead us into all truth, and reveal the things of God to us. The Word of God is the basis of all faith, for in it is revealed the Truth, the living Truth which is IN Christ, and IS Christ.
“Speak Lord in the stillness, while I wait on Thee, hushed my heart to listen in expectancy. Speak, O blessed Master, in this quiet hour. Speak and make me listen, feel Thy touch of power. For the words Thou speakest, they are life indeed…living bread from heaven, NOW my spirit feed.”
So, today, this morning…let us seek Him with all of our hearts, in His word. And let us grasp the fact that He desires and wills to reveal Himself to us, to visit us, in and through His word. It is then that we shall know the way in which to go, and be fully equipped for the task at hand. Then we shall KNOW His presence, and the “visit” that He so desires to reveal.
Love, Dad