To the Ends of the Earth: Character – Week 10, Day 2 - Though God is Beyond Us, He Still Chooses to Be Near and Dear to the Depths of Our Discerning Hearts

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

   neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

   so are my ways higher than your ways

   and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8–9

“For this commandment which I command you this day is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up for us to heaven, and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”

Deuteronomy 30:11–14

God is beyond our understanding, yet very near and dear to our hearts. None of us can fathom his depths, yet God has chosen to place his Spirit within our hearts so that we can approach his throne without fear and receive his grace to live according to his plan. As we make an examination of conscience, we can rest in the awesome reality that the One who is so beyond our comprehension is still the One who reveals himself to us in the most intimate way. There is no need for fear or hesitation in sharing our innermost thoughts, our sins, and our sorrows with the Almighty. In Christ, God has chosen to become like us in all things but sin (Heb 4:15).

It seems like a contradiction to say God is beyond us and yet near us, but this is the perfection of his love. It is so incomprehensible because it is perfect. Yet because it is perfect, it can touch us in the deepest parts of our souls. We have been created to recognize our need for God and to answer his call to surrender our lives to him. Though we cannot know God fully on this side of heaven, through the sacrifice of Christ and his perfect grace we can allow his love to transform us from fallen to forgiven. We need not fear approaching the “throne of grace” (Heb 4:16) to find forgiveness. The incomprehensible nature of our all-powerful God should overwhelm us, yet lead to total trust in his ability to see into our hearts and bring us healing.

Questions for Reflection

What is something about God you wish you understood better? How has God’s all-powerful love and mercy as revealed in Christ helped you to open your heart to approach him in the sacrament of Confession?

How can you share your forgiven relationship with God with another man today?

Praying with Scripture

O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

‘For who has known the mind of the Lord,

   or who has been his counselor?’

‘Or who has given a gift to him

   that he might be repaid?’

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory for ever. Amen. (Rom 11:33–36)

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