When considering the theme exploration, I immediately thought of the fact that nothing is more important in our lives, or has the capacity of far reaching influence than exploring the heart of God----as revealed in His Word!
In Proverbs 2:4 Solomon addresses the value of searching for wisdom; which we have discovered is IN Jesus Christ. ”if you look for it as for silver and search for it as hidden treasure, THEN you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God”
Colossians 2:2-3 confirms that in Jesus Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Job 23:12 says, ‘’I have not departed from His commands, but have treasured His words more than daily food.”
Psalm 119:103 says, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! “
Do I daily treasure His word more than food?
I’ve been reading through Job the last few weeks and was impressed in chapter 28, by his description of exploring:
"People know where to mine silver and how to refine gold. They know where to dig iron from the earth and how to smelt copper from rock. They know how to shine light in the darkness and explore the farthest regions of the earth as they search in the dark for ore. They sink a mine shaft into the earth far from where anyone lives. They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth.
Food is grown on the earth above, but down below, the earth is melted as by fire. Here the rocks contain precious lapis lazuli, and the dust contains gold.
These are treasures no bird of prey can see, no falcon's eye observe. No wild animal has walked upon these treasures; no lion has ever set his paw there.
People know how to tear apart flinty rocks and overturn the roots of mountains. They cut tunnels in the rocks and uncover precious stones. They dam up the trickling streams and bring to light the hidden treasures. "But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? No one knows where to find it, for it is not found among the living. 'It is not here,' says the ocean. 'Nor is it here,' says the sea. It cannot be bought with gold. It cannot be purchased with silver. It's worth more than all the gold of Ophir, greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli. Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal. It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold. Coral and jasper are worthless in trying to get it. The price of wisdom is far above rubies. Precious peridot from Ethiopia cannot be exchanged for it. It's worth more than the purest gold. "But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity. Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it.
Destruction and Death say, 'We've heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.' "God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found, for he looks throughout the whole earth and sees everything under the heavens. He decided how hard the winds should blow and how much rain should fall. He made the laws for the rain and laid out a path for the lightning. Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it. He set it in place and examined it thoroughly. And this is what he says to all humanity: 'The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.'
This is a vivid description of exploring the heart of God! And what we are searching for is a very precious treasure—His wisdom and knowledge.
I recall a story about some miners in California who diligently searched a long time for gold, before finally giving up their search. Awhile later, another group of miners came upon the abandoned mine and began “exploring” and digging in the shaft……you guessed it, after further “exploration” they discovered “The Mother Lode” just a couple of inches away from where the former miners had quit!! The moral of the story is obvious: that we need to continue our diligent search for God’s wisdom—His heart. Which He earnestly wants us to discover! And never give up!
The fact that God will guide us as we search His heart could be described in this illustration of river rafting. We must trust our experienced guide who might steer us toward a steep waterfall, when another way appears safer. Yet when he brings us through those swirling waters we see that if we had gone the way we thought best we would have encountered jagged rocks that might have destroyed us.
In the midst of ALL the events of our lives, God is seeking to reveal His heart. In tough times our thoughts may scream for a different way to be guided; but if we daily treasure His Word more than food and are faithful to explore the scriptures, we will SEE HIM—His heart—and what He desires to teach us. He does not waste experiences and circumstances! Nothing He does is accidental or incidental. He has a purpose and well thought out plan for everything.
HE WANTS US TO KNOW HIS HEART!
to treasure His Word more than food
IT’S WORTH EXPLORING!
