Revelation through Others

Devotional

One of the chief ways God reveals his heart to us is revelation through fellow believers. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” God has given us the ability to encourage one another—to literally fill the hearts of fellow believers with courage to pursue fullness of life in the kingdom. He’s given us the ability to “stir up one another to love and good works” that we might fill one another with wholehearted devotion to Jesus both in word and deed.

In one of my favorite passages of Scripture, 2 Corinthians 4:5-7, Paul writes:

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

God has given us his glory. He’s given us the ability to proclaim not only ourselves, but “Jesus Christ as Lord.” The jars of clay Paul was referencing here were anything but perfect. They were fragile and easily broken. They were the material for the common person.

God has chosen to display his power and love not through perfect carriers, but through us. He’s chosen to use us who are common, us who are fragile and easily broken, that others might see his overwhelming grace and unconditional love.

God knows the believers around you are imperfect. He knows they are weak and broken. He knows they have wounded you and oftentimes discouraged, rather than encouraged, you. But what encouragement can we find in God meeting those who are perfect? How could we possibly find hope if God only revealed himself through those without weakness? The greatest source of hope we have is that God would continuously offer grace to those who are undeserving. The greatest revelation of God’s heart we have in others is that our Father never gives up on us but loves us unconditionally.

Look to others for encouragement today. Look for the kindness of God revealed through the weakness and brokenness of fellow believers. And declare the grace of God to others today, not by seeking to appear perfect, but by proclaiming the goodness of a God who would fully love someone in their imperfection. May your heart be stirred today as God’s heart is revealed through the earthen vessels he’s filled with his glory.