When I was a child, I remember thinking about the potential of being a pastor and I thought, “How can I preach every Sunday for the rest of my life? Is it even possible?” You see, at that time I thought to myself, “There’s only so much of the Bible to teach, and there are a LOT of years in a lifetime – which would mean a LOT of Sundays. Is there really that much information in the Scripture?” Then, as I started to study the Bible more in high school, then in college and again after graduating, I realized that there’s so much more in Scripture to understand.
The reality is, the more I study the Bible the more I begin to realize just how much I don’t know. Now, that can be discouraging to some of us at times and cause us to think, “I give up!” But instead of giving up, be amazed at God’s Word and continue to search it to know more. This is the same mindset of the apostle Paul. In talking about the amazing plan of God to save His people, Paul writes this:
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways. . . (Romans 11:33-36)!”
Paul is actually revealing his excitement in the fact that there is no end to understanding God’s saving plan through reading and studying Scripture. While it doesn’t all make sense to him, he can rejoice! Our God Who is wisdom, Who is inscrutable, Who can’t be fully comprehended, is a God Who makes His plan known to those who trust in Him!
Paul then goes on in Romans 12 and says that because we know this God and His plan, then let’s grow in our understanding and watch how the Truth of God actually transforms us. The God Who is infinite is also personal, and He engages each one of our lives for His glory and our eternal good. Let’s pray to that end even today.
Pastor Timothy Durey