Untold Riches

[Walter]

Thursday 8-11-22 5th. Day Of The Weekly Cycle, Av 12 5782 52nd. Summer Day

Untold Riches

Read: Romans 11:33–36 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 81–83; Romans 11:19–36
Download MP3
Subscribe to iTunes

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! Romans 11:33

In an orbit between Mars and Jupiter zooms an asteroid worth trillions and trillions of dollars. Scientists say 16 Psyche consists of metals such as gold, iron, nickel, and platinum worth unfathomable amounts of money. For now, earthlings are not attempting to mine this rich resource, but the United States is planning to send a probe to study the valuable rock.

The promise of untold riches just out of reach can be both tantalizing and frustrating. Surely in time there will be people who will champion the cause of reaching 16 Psyche for its treasure.

But what about the prospect of riches that are within our reach? Wouldn’t everyone go for that? Writing to the first-century church at Rome, the apostle Paul spoke of attainable riches—those we find in our relationship with God.

He wrote, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33). Bible scholar James Denney described these riches as “the unsearchable wealth of love that enables God to . . . far more than meet the [great needs] of the world.”

Isn’t that what we need—even more than gold nuggets from some far-off asteroid? We can mine the riches of God’s wisdom and knowledge found in the Scriptures as the Holy Spirit helps us. May God lead us to dig into those riches and to know and treasure Him more.

What does it mean for you to be rich in God’s love? How can you dig more for riches that last?

Father God, help me to seek out Your wisdom and knowledge, Your judgments, and Your paths as I seek to follow You.

For further study, read New Life: The Transforming Power of the Gospel.

INSIGHT
Paul isn’t the first biblical writer to speak of God being unknowable (Romans 11:33–35). Two thousand years earlier, Job (who is believed to have lived around the time of Abraham) asked, “Can you fathom the mysteries of God?” (Job 11:7).

The prophet Isaiah aptly summed up our incapacity to fully know God: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” (Isaiah 55:8). But God desires us to know Him: “I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord” (Jeremiah 24:7; see Hebrews 8:10–11).

The apostle John tells us that “no one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God . . . has made him known” (John 1:18). Jesus Himself affirmed, “If you knew me, you would know my Father also” (8:19). Even though we can’t comprehend everything about God, John says everyone who knows Jesus knows Him (17:3).

By dave branon|August 11th, 2022

Bible Study Romans Eleven:33-36

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Read full chapter

Love, Walter and Debbie

 

[Webers.Home]

.
Folks who've undergone the regeneration spoken of by John 3:3-8 have been given a
place in God's home as adopted children (Rom 8:15, Gal 4:5, Eph 1:5) which is a really
huge advantage because adopted children legally share all the rights and privileges of
children born in the home; and that includes not only the right to be known by their
father's name and a place in his genealogy, but also the right to inherit.

• Eph 1:11 . . In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according
to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.

• 1Pet 1:3-4 . . Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according
to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection
of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that
does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.

The inheritance shared by the adopted children in God's home is an interesting variety.
It's actually a joint arrangement.

• Rom 8:16-17 . .The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of
God, and if children, then heirs-- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.

A joint heir is different than a common heir. Normally, heirs are apportioned an
individual percentage of their benefactor's estate. But joint heirs inherit, not a
percentage, but the entire estate, as community property.

I am not at present privy to the full extent of God's estate, but for sure He owns
everything in the cosmos-- seen and unseen, obvious and not so obvious, distant and
nearby-- all of its forms of life, matter, and energy. As joint heirs with Christ, his adopted
siblings have a stake in all that. This, if true, is one of the most astounding things that
has ever come my way during the entire 78 years of my existence on this planet.
_

 

[Live4Him3]

The title of this thread reminded me of the lyrics from the following song:

I'd Rather Have Jesus

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I'd rather be His than have riches untold;
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands.
I'd rather be led by His nail pierced hand

Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin's dread sway.
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause;
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame.
I'd rather be true to His holy name

Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin's dread sway.
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He's sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He's all that my hungering spirit needs.
I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead

Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin's dread sway.
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

 

[Webers.Home]

.
Back in the decade of the 1960s, it occurred to me that my human nature is
suitable for life in this world, but Heaven would require a level of piety and
self control that I was pretty sure I could neither produce nor keep up
forever. Sooner or later I'd mess up and get thrown out. But if my nature
was just as suitable for life with God as it is for life with people, then for sure
I'd never get thrown out of Heaven.

In other words: if only thinking, feeling, and acting like God came just as
natural to me as thinking, feeling, and acting like a human; then that would
be the cat's meow.

Anon I discovered that the very thing I yearned for is available.

• 2Pet 1:3-4 . . His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life
and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and
virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious
promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature.
_