The Payoffs of Paying Attention

SCRIPTURE: He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. Daniel 2:21-22 NIV

THOUGHT: Did you know the Psalmist once observed, “in your light we see light (Ps. 36:9)”? That verse was an epiphany for me. Almost like saying we don’t really know what light is until we step into God’s light. And since God is both creator and source of light, it makes sense to me that God’s understanding of everything to do with light can be revealed to us a little at a time as we move further into his orbit of pure light.

There is a pattern through Scripture, and it’s highlighted in these promises from Daniel 2, that if you become spiritually wise you’ll get an extra dose – exponential wisdom; if you hone spiritual discernment, you’ll get real knowledge as a bonus; if your search for God is honest and deep, God’s going to reveal deep and hidden things to you.

Jesus put it like this: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much (Luke 16:10 NIV).” So, the promise goes both ways, as so many do.

My thought is this: it pays to pay attention to the little details of honesty, integrity, stewardship, study of Scripture, and time alone with Almighty God. Don’t be afraid, don’t be lazy, don’t be lukewarm, don’t be haphazard. Step into the light and get even more — exponential light.  

PRAYER: Thank you for the payoffs of paying attention, oh God. When we seek with all our hearts, you promise we will find more than we hoped or imagined. Enlarge our hearts (Ps. 119:32 KJV); enlarge the harvest of our being right with you (2 Cor. 9:10 NIV).