Proverbs 20:27 is a visually stirring verse.
“The lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being” (NIV)
Several elements intrigued me in this verse from today’s reading in the One-Year Bible.
First, the lamp metaphor points to the nature of God. We know that He is light and that there is no darkness in Him or even in His presence.
So this tells me that wherever God’s Spirit goes, the light unveils whatever is hidden by darkness or even by the fog of mixed loyalties.
The message of the verse is that God moves into people’s lives so that their character might be revealed to Him and to themselves.
Second, the searching is not external, but internal.
God knows — and so should we — that it is not our flesh that determines our future. Instead, it is our spirit.
Two adults with the same body shape, appearance and economic opportunity have the same fleshly setting, but often end up with vastly different spiritual paths. It’s because of internal differences of character and spirituality.
God seeks souls and that’s why He searches spirits.
Third, God doesn’t stop in the lobby of our inner person.
Far from it.
The light of His Holy Spirit delves into every nook of our lives, recording what He sees and speaking truth to our consciences in an effort to stir us toward sanctification.
You know this is true. You’ve heard His Spirit’s voice steering you away from unsanctified zones.
When you’ve listened and obeyed, your life has been better and more peaceful.
When you haven’t, it hasn’t.
You know, the last thing that mischievious teens want to see on date night is their parents following them around with a flashlight. They don’t want parents to know what’s going on.
And so often, the parents don’t know.
God does, though.
Just like He does with adults displaying the same spiritually immature nature of thinking that God is blind and can’t take notes regarding the choice to lie, steal, gossip, hate or look at Internet porn.
God is searching you, my friend. ALL of you. Just like He is with me.
Let’s commit to allowing His Son, His Word, His Spirit and His purposes to fill us to overflowing so that wherever God looks, He’ll see one becoming more and more like Him.
He deserves it.
Always remember to be the very best you can be.
It’s the very least that you should do.
As always, I love you
Martin
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