Learning this all over again

Who can measure the wealth and wisdom and knowledge of God? Who can understand his decisions or explain what he does? “Has anyone known the thoughts of the Lord or given him advice? Has anyone loaned something to the Lord that must be repaid?” Everything comes from the Lord. All things were made because of him and will return to him. Praise the Lord forever! Amen.  (Romans 11:33-36) 

If we are used to measuring things, such as the length of something, or the content within a particular container, after a while we all can pretty much eyeball something and tell just about how much is in that container or how long the object is.  Why?  We become so accustomed to the container or the object we are measuring we just know when we see it. It has to do with how frequently we observe that object. There are things I "know" because I have observed them over and over again until I developed an awareness.  I wonder if we can get to know God's ways of dealing in our lives in much the same manner and develop this "knowing" which helps us to be aware at any given moment when he is about to move, speak, challenge us?  I think it might just be possible we get to know him well enough we can appreciate his movement quicker. We might think we know things like God does, but let me just assure you - - - we have only begun to experience his wealth, appreciate his wisdom, and bask in his knowledge!

I think it is possible to get close enough to God's heart that we begin to understand his movement and interpret his actions a lot quicker or easier.  It is because of the frequency of contact we have with him - the multitude of opportunities we have to observe how he moves or acts - that we become "familiar" with these movements and actions. It isn't because we gain the "mind" of God and rise to his level of wisdom or knowledge - but we can see things through his eyes and begin to respond as he responds.  When we think of "measuring" something, we are usually speaking of the breadth, width, height, or capacity of that object. It is impossible to truly "measure" something which is limitless, endless, or without beginning or end! God's wealth, wisdom, and knowledge are simply limitless, endless, and without beginning or end!

In human terms, capacity is determined by ability. God's ability never changes - this is something we can never forget. His capacity never grows smaller, nor does it increase - it was and always will be limitless! Whenever we try to "box God in" by believing we have him all figured out in some way or another, he will certainly reveal himself far outside of that "box". Why? He doesn't want us to become so "accustomed" to his movements or actions in one area that we miss him totally when he moves or acts in a completely different one!

In life, some of what we receive isn't because we did much to obtain whatever we received, but we get all the benefits of whatever it is (God's wealth, wisdom, and knowledge) without having to do much to receive it. We employ life strategies by watching what others do. When we are walking with Jesus, we employ the knowledge he has, see the wisdom in the way he moves, and find the spiritual, emotional, and physical wealth in the actions he both takes and refrains from taking. We serve a limitless God - there is no end to his resources; no breadth to his love we can actually measure; no depth to his grace we can fathom; and no span to his reach we can possibly be outside of. Putting him in any "box" which says he has to operate in this way or that, perform this or that action, or just be here or there is just not going to help us to grow in our appreciation of his limitless power, grace, or love.  Just sayin!