Oswald Chimes In ...

I adore this quote from Oswald Chambers..!

Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life----gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow might bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprise. When we become simply a promoter or defender of a particular belief, something within us dies. That is not believing God—it is only believing our belief about Him. Jesus said, "…unless you become as little children…." (Matthew 18:3). The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, just what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, "…believe also in Me" (John 14:1), not "believe certain things about me". Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come—but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful it HIM.

Oswald Chambers

My Utmost For His Highest

Knowing ...

A wise friend of mine shared this elsewhere:

I am fully persuaded that each person can know with certainty that there is God who is eternal. That knowing comes from communion with God. It is something each can find a way to achieve, and all will ultimately find that way. One person cannot prove that knowing to another; I see nothing to be gained by debate or compiling long lists of scriptures. We can joyfully share our testimonies and persuasions, but that isn't proof.

In science we can gather data through experiment and observation until we have evidence that something is true beyond all reasonable doubt. Such truths include the theories/laws/principles of gravitation, planetary motion, thermodynamics, evolution by natural selection, genetic transmission, and many others. Science is a way of knowing with a methodology we can all share. There are other kinds of knowing that cannot be achieved by common methodology. I can know that something is beautiful, but I cannot prove that to someone else. There are works of art that some know are beautiful and others know are hideous. One such knowing may seem to contradict another, but they do not. They are separate knowings.

There are many kinds of knowing. AISI all are secondary to the spiritual knowing that we must each come to in our own way. There is no way for any of us know what spiritual knowledge another individual knows. We do not use words in the same way in trying to convey our thoughts.

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Cor. 2:14)

Shalom, Dena