Read Proverbs 2:1–2, 4–5
I recall as a boy, combing the shores of the Bay with my dad and looking for flounder. Just my dad and me, under the stars, guided by the bright glow of a Coleman lantern. It’s hard to describe the thrill I had when I’d happen upon the perfect seashell, pearly white from years of salt and surf pounding its hard exterior. To my delight, the gem glistened in the light, awaiting my eager grasp.
I know few joys like the joy of sudden discovery. Instantly forgotten is the pain and expense of the search, the inconveniences, the hours, the sacrifices. Bathed in the ecstasy of discovery, time stands still. Nothing else seems half so important. Lost in the thrill of the moment, we relish the inexpressible finding—like a little child wading knee-deep in the salt water of a bay, finding a prized seashell.
Such discoveries through life have many faces...
- the answer to a lengthy conflict
- insight into your own makeup
- understanding the “why” behind a fear
- just the right expression to describe a feeling
- finding relief from needless guilt
Solomon talks about the greatest discovery of all. His words still give me pause:
My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding.... Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2: 1–2, 4–5)
Talk about a discovery! Hidden in the Scriptures are priceless words of wisdom, ensconced in ancient expressions, waiting to be discovered. Silent. Hard to find. Easy to miss if you’re in a hurry. But they are there, nevertheless, holding eternal value. God’s Word, like a vast ocean of sand waiting to yield its transforming treasures.
Are you looking? Are you expecting to find something valuable? Wade in!
Devotional content taken from Good Morning, Lord...Can We Talk? by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 2018. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries. All rights reserved.
The full devotional can be purchased at https://www.tyndale.com/p/good-morning-lord-can-we-talk/9781414380681
