All that God has Prepared for Those Who Love Him

Most days, I stand amazed at God's provision for the human race, for both the just and the unjust. As hard as it is to believe, He graciously provides for those who cannot find so much as a kind word for Him, and He does so knowing their ingratitude, but for those who love Him, His generous provision goes far beyond our wildest imaginations, exceeding, abundantly above all we could ever ask or think.

Listen to these words from Paul's letter to the Corinthian church: "...but just as it is written, 'things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.' For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words" (1 Corinthians 2:9-13).

Think about this: you have received the Spirit who is from God--the Holy Spirit--in order that you might know the things freely given to you by God! In other words, God has given you the Holy Spirit and for this good reason (among others): that you might know (be made aware of, receive, embrace, accept, put to use) the lavish outpouring of gifts that God has provided for you.

Now, I do not know about you, but this verse stirs within me the kind of eager anticipation I remember having as a child on Christmas Eve; I could barely wait until daybreak to open the gifts. Obviously, those childhood gifts cannot compare to all that God has prepared for those of us who love Him, but that memory sure does burn at "white heat" as I meditate upon this passage. I can tell you this: I was never disappointed then and I am, certainly, not disappointed now! His provision is simply too good to be true, especially when seen in light of our just deserts.

Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has man's heart even begun to grasp all that God has prepared for those who love Him! Thankfully, one of the gifts that God has given to us is the Person of the Holy Spirit, the ONLY one who knows the thoughts of God, the ONLY one who can cause us to know--to really know--the things we cannot see, hear, or comprehend!

I hope this whets your appetite for Sunday's message!

Your Pastor