Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-12)
What greater gift can God give us than his very self. Most people first approach God for some personal reason, whether it be to receive the gift of salvation or the resolution of some difficult trouble. Others approach God with selfish motives to obtain some worldly blessing. Yet all the while that we crave the fulfillment of some personal desire, God desires to give a gift that far surpasses any worldly fulfillment; God desires to give us the gift of his Spirit, which is His very self.
Think for a moment about your inner life. You have both superficial thoughts and deep thoughts. Your superficial thoughts are about what you are going to have for breakfast or how irritated you are that the cat has brought in another bird that is hiding under the piano. (That’s what I dealt with first thing this morning.) But you also have deep thoughts about the meaning and hope of your life. Most of the time you are engaged with superficial thoughts, but God also wants you to attend to your deeper thoughts, which is why he has given us a Sabbath Day of rest from our labors. The Sabbath Day is not a day for hobbies or household projects, but a day “unto the Lord your God.” The purpose of that day is to attend to deeper spiritual things.
Now in the same way that you have deep inner thoughts, so does God. In fact, your life is patterned after the image of God. Likewise, in the same way that you desire to share your inmost thoughts with a trusted friend, God desires to share His inmost thoughts with you. And for those who are His trusted friends, God withholds nothing. This is what Paul means by saying “the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.” So again, here is a treasure beyond measure and one worth pursuing most fervently. God has given us the gift of His Spirit and desires to share His inmost thoughts with us. Nothing can compare with such a great gift.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. As you desire to share your thoughts with me, teach me to value your gift and to be receptive to your inmost thoughts. I confess that I have often approached you with selfish motives, seeking only the fulfillment of earthly desires. And once I received what I wanted, I went my merry way. But now you’ve shown me that there is a greater gift you desire to give, which is your very self and the inmost thoughts of your Spirit. I do not know how to receive such a great gift, but I am willing. Show me how I can become receptive. Help me now to pattern my life in such a way that we can share life together. Restore the Sabbath Day to me so that I can be continually refreshed. Let my earthly journey become less about earthly things and more about heavenly things as your Spirit works within me. As you have purchased me through Christ, let your Spirit win me fully for yourself.