Mark 4:22 “For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.”

This isn’t the only time Jesus said this sort of thing, and it’s really bad news for a lot of people! As it says in John, “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” (John 3:20) Sometimes discovering hidden things is exciting, and sometimes it’s horrifying. Right now the things that are coming out into the open in American government are downright disgusting, as we see the veneer of “compassion” and “public service” coming off of so many politicians. Raw thirst for power and personal advantage are never pretty. That exposure is perhaps the best thing to come out of the current situation, but we need to remember that nothing ever surprises God. The fact that Jesus actually was surprised by such things as the Centurion’s faith (Matthew 8:10) is proof that He really did take on our human limitations, and was acting in the power of the Holy Spirit rather than in His innate power as the Son. We need to remember what it says in Hebrews: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13) That’s the last thing some people want to hear, and if we’re honest, it makes us a little uncomfortable as well! The point is to live with this awareness, asking and trusting God to lead us in ways that will bring blessing to others, honor to us, and glory to Him.

There have been plenty of things in my life that I didn’t want exposed, but at the same time I’ve been aware that they weren’t hidden from God. That’s actually a huge blessing. It helps me live the sort of life that doesn’t need to be hidden. At the same time, I am very aware of what Paul called “the message of knowledge.” (1 Corinthians 12:8) It has happened to me several times, but to Cathy with some frequency, that the Holy Spirit will reveal information that there was no natural way to know. It is closely related to prophecy, which is why the Samaritan woman at the well said, “I can see that you are a prophet” to Jesus when He said things that exposed her personal life. (John 4:19) Actually, people have left this church out of fear of what God would show Cathy about them! Often what God shows us is not to be expressed to anyone, but rather is to be ammunition for prayer, but sometimes it is to be used to call someone to account, to turn them away from the path they are following. Cathy and I have both experienced people thinking they were confessing something that would shock us, but they were the ones shocked when it was clear the Lord had already let us know what was going on. I am to live my life in the awareness that I am completely transparent to my Lord, so that it won’t matter if I am transparent to the people around me.

Father, thank You for all the wonderful discoveries You allow us to make. Keep us from obsessing over the unclean things that get exposed, but rather rest in the assurance of Your omniscient love, having Your wisdom as to how to respond to everything, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!