As far as I know, the apostle Paul was not one to create surprises. It’s possible he arranged a surprise birthday party for Barnabas, or gave a gift-for-no-reason to Timothy, or secured a bouquet of flowers for Lydia in appreciation for her hospitality, but there’s no record of such deeds.
However, when he prayed for the believers at Ephesus, he did include a startling statement:
Note that Paul asked God to give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, not so they would make judicious choices or recognize and follow God’s plan. For me, those two requests would more closely fit what I’d expect. Instead, Paul desired the Ephesians to know God better.
Centuries later, author/pastor A. W. Tozer brilliantly summed up why that would be uppermost in Paul’s mind:
Paul knew from his own experience that developing intimacy with the Heavenly Father would provide more pleasure, meaning, and satisfaction in this life–beyond what earth can offer. In fact, life’s journey can become a wonder-filled treasure hunt as we study the scriptures and look for evidence of God’s glorious Presence all around us, because:
God’s richest gift . . . this side of eternity
is the revelation of himself.
F. Elaine Olsen (1)
As we seek to know God better, we’ll discover delightful facets of his shimmering Personhood—facets such as these:
- Grace. Even though he knew every act we’d commit that would break his heart, God the Son willingly died for us anyway. Nothing can separate us from his fierce love.
- Goodness. Even when trouble overtakes us there is good, because there is always God—with his empowering strength, his sweet comfort, and his unfathomable peace.
- Power to transform. “All we are is by Christ, all we have is from Christ, and all we will be is through Christ” (2). He alone can transform us, creating beauty out of ashes.
- Power to produce. What we offer him may be as insignificant as five loaves and two fish, but when we put them in God’s hands, he produces more than we can imagine.
- Love. “Every door that opens into a treasury of love shows another door into another treasury beyond. We need not fear that we shall ever come to the end of God’s goodness, or any experience for which he will have no blessing ready” (3).
That’s because our God is a “way-making, promise-keeping, battle-winning, water-walking, storm-stilling, faithful Friend and Savior” (4). What treasure could possibly surpass such magnificence?
- F. Elaine Olsen, Beyond the Scars, 27.
- Herbert Lockyer, Seasons of the Lord, 206.
- J. R. Miller, quoted in Seasons of the Lord, 199.
- Kaitlyn Bouchillon, Take Heart, 210.
Photo credits: http://www.pixabay.com; http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.pixabay.com; http://www.pxhere.com; http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.canva.com; http://www.quoteinspector.com.
From the Inside Out 
What treasure, indeed, could ever surpass knowing how much God loves us and knowing He wants us to know Him better.
Blessings, Nancy!
Your comment reminded me of an old hymn we used to sing at the church of my childhood, “Sweeter as the Years Go By.” One line of the chorus included the lyrics, “Richer, fuller, deeper, Jesus’ love is sweeter.” Now I know: the older we get, the more we do appreciate and revel in that love, and the more we appreciate the awesome privilege of knowing HIM! Thank you, Martha!
😍😍
Thank you, Emily!
Thank you very much for giving us the address of the invaluable diamond to be rich in body mind and soul .Take care🌹🙏
You’re welcome, Francis. Praise God for ALL the facets of incomparable treasure in his Son!
Yes,we ought to praise him incessantly to be happy in all our endeavors.So nice of you.Take care.🌹😊🙏
Beautiful post, Nancy! The more we know God, the more of his beauty and goodness and love we’ll see, and hopefully put back into the world ourselves. Paul’s prayer was an amazing one indeed.
Thank you, Lisa. You make a good point. As Jesus shines in our hearts, the resulting glow is meant to impact others (2 Corinthians 4:6; Matthew 5:16). What an amazing privilege–to reflect and represent the King of the universe to the world around us!
What a treasure trove, Nancy! I especially like that Tozer quote. All things in one!!
It’s a mind-boggling concept, isn’t it!
Amen! This is so good!
Thank you, Andrew! So glad you stopped by AND found this post meaningful. Praise God for his inspiration!
Thank you for the reminder that the more time I spend with Him in His Word and claim that power the more He can use me! And the truth that even knowing the sins I would commit in my earthly life He willingly and lovingly gave His life for me. Also, this post reminded me of my Aunt DaLee and Uncle Paul (my Dad’s youngest brother). For years they were the only ones on my Dad’s side who were born-again and their testimony and love of Christ was evident. Every birthday they would send me a card with Philippians 4:6-7 referenced. And I fondly remember them singing ‘Sweeter as the Years Go By’ in a lovely duet at the little country church they attended. (They were in charge of music and I often visited.)
Little did we know that such memories would provide light for our pathways long after those moments had passed. I love the way small trigger-experiences in the present (something we see, hear, or read, for example) can take us back with sharp clarity to those formative moments of the past. God was making himself known in ways we didn’t always recognize at the time, but now those moments are part of the treasure he shares with us. Thank you for sharing about your aunt and uncle, Cheri!
Nancy,
I’m so very thankful for God’s amazing grace and for the fact that He gives us the opportunity to get to know Him more.
Amen, Tresa. I can’t imagine life without him!
Nancy, These quotes & scriptures were so encouraging that I came back to read them again. 🙂 Thanks for sharing this. A good reminder that He is truly the Ultimate Gift!
You’re welcome, Mary. What a delight for me that you found encouragement here. I have to say it again: Praise God for his inspiration!
Wow! This is so powerful Nancy!! It’s so hard to come close to comprehending the greatness of our God… but just reading this was like a gigantic hug from Him… and an opportunity to praise and thank Him for His incredible blessings!! ❤️
How wonderful that these words felt like a gigantic hug from our Father! We are indeed incredibly blessed. Thank you, sweet friend, for taking the time to comment, to lift my spirits with YOUR encouragement!
Nancy, this has so blessed me today. Thank you. ❤️
Deb
You’re welcome, Deb!. Thank YOU and praise GOD!
Nancy,
Yes, yes, and yes.
In Christ,
Gary
Hallelujah, Gary!