The Bible says:
“But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”
— John 2: 24, 25
Each person is a sovereign individual. One person cannot get inside the head of another and know what they’re thinking or feeling.
If we choose to let others know our private thoughts and feelings, we make them public by speaking them. As sovereign individuals we have a privacy that we share with God alone.
Because we are all alike in our makeup, we have a good idea how others feel when they’re hurting and can sympathize with them.
“For what man knoweth the things of man, save the spirit of man which is in him?” — 1 Corinthians 2: 11
Man is like a box full of things, and no two are exactly alike. On the outside of the box is written “fragile” and “perishable” with the expiration date.
As a box we’re capable of holding more than any shipping crate known to man. What we actually are surfaces when we’re handled roughly and jostled and our flaps fly open. (Matthew 12: 34) In our box are pieces of string with frayed ends because of task unfinished that cause us disappointment. Our box has sharp-pointed objects that remind us of personal injuries of the past.
In our box are shiny little trinkets that are precious moments that make our heart glad. In our box are heavy objects like guilt, fear, and failure that weigh us down and keep us from being free.
Some boxes are filled to the brim with worthless junk, while others contain a single priceless treasure. One day like boxes we’re shipped off to our final destination. When we die, our box becomes empty as our spirit leaves, and our body is then buried in a box.
We can hide things from man but not from God. When we pray, we’re not informing God of all our needs.
He knows what we need before we ask. (Matthew 6: 8) He sees everything inside our box.
As a sovereign individual when we pray, we’re inviting God who is Sovereign of the universe, but who will not usurp our will, to become involved in our life.
God knows what we need; will we ask Him who is Almighty to get involved in our life?
James H. Cagle is a Ray City resident who pastored several churches for a total of 11 years. Email him at [email protected]
