About Revelation

For many years my go to Bibles have been the New King James or the 1987 edition of the New Internal Version, but recently in this new season, I've been using the Amplified a lot.  I wasn't sure how I and it would "get along," but I knew I was suppose to start using it now as my default version.  Even as I mentioned in my last entry about the new frilly look of this blog not being my basic design preference, but  how I really enjoy seeing it,  I'm forming a  new kind of relationship with the Amplified version which  formerly did not agree with my basic style of learning.  However, I've been quite amazed at how much it has expanded my way of thinking, understanding, and depth of receiving revelation from the Word so, I'd like to share one of those times with you now.

Recently, while being directed to read Proverbs 8, several particular verses opened up a greater simplicity of understanding for me.   For the sake of clarity for why it was so significant, I must confess that I've always had an issue with striving.  Though I've made much progress over the years because of grace, it's been an area in which I've struggled at times.  The day He led me to read Proverbs 8, I had a wonderful breakthrough!

These are the verses that made all the difference.  First, here they are written in their entirety: Proverbs 8:8,10,11

8 All the words of my mouth are righteous (upright and in right standing with God); there is nothing contrary to truth or crooked in them.

10 Receive my instruction in preference to [striving for] silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,

11 For skillful and godly Wisdom is better than rubies or pearls, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. [Job 28:15; Ps. 19:10; 119:127.]

These are the words that stood out to me:

8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing contrary to truth or crooked in them. 10 Receive my instruction in preference to striving... 11 For skillful and godly Wisdom is better...

Needless to say this revelation in its simplicity absolutely affected me deeply!  As in verse 8, there is nothing "contrary to the truth"  or the meaning in what is written in the fuller version than in shorter, but the use of the words clarified and deepened what I already knew.  Receiving instruction and following it is far better than striving for it, silver or anything else.  And receiving and taking to heart His wisdom is far better than anything a man can come up with in any equation or effort.  It truly settled me.  Now when tension tries to arise, or has touched me suddenly,  I'm much more capable of returning to the place of receiving His peace, help and instruction than ever before.  It's amazing the difference between mans' default nature of self reliance and learning ever more successfully to rely on Him.  I mean after all, He really is God and He's ever so willing to be our personal God if we let Him.  And funny, He will even help us with that, too!

Addendum:

The fact that revelation from God is progressive and continues to reveal more of its true meaning, gives more clarity to the following verse in John 16:25

I have told you these things in parables (veiled language, allegories, dark sayings); the hour is now coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but I shall tell you about the Father in plain words and openly (without reserve).

This is all about revelation.  It's been open season for this kind of revelatory understanding of God's Word since Pentecost, meaning, since Jesus returned to the Father the Holy Spirit was sent to teach us everything  according to John 14:26.  And I believe that's particularly everything we need to know to live our lives as the person He created us to be as His very own children whom He loves.  Yes, revelation has been available all this time, but now because of all that has been revealed to us collectively, and because of the time we're living in now-the fullness of time-revelation is coming at an exponential rate, and we all can partake of it.  Even in technology, governments, everything around us, all is rapidly changing and God will not be behind in anything, but ahead of it all.  Anyone who wants to get in on what He's doing and saying can.  The invitation  to come to Him is still open!

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified Bible