Nothing Except . . .
Chris Cunningham
John 3:27

John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven...John 3:27

God's revelation of Himself in the scriptures is a vast ocean of knowledge and wisdom of which the combined understanding of all mankind is but a drop. If the vast sum of all the volumes, both of what has been written and what has been spoken truthfully concerning God's Word, were all amassed it would amount to a mere handful of jewels from His infinite and unsearchable riches. While His children marvel at what we do see and are overwhelmed at times with a comparatively clear view (by His grace) of His glories, we mourn the extent to which our sin has blinded us and the more we learn, the more we realize how little we know. The most distinguished scholar as well as the newest of babes in Christ has need daily, as His disciple, to ask Him for the simplest and most basic needs: Lord, teach us to pray. Lord, increase our faith.

Another effect which comes with each step of truth we take is the increasing realization that we owe all spiritual understanding to the free, revealing grace of God. In this school, the intelligent student has no advantage over the idiot; the well behaved will not excel beyond the troublemaker. Both will see when the understanding is enlightened by the Teacher and until then, both will be equally in the dark. How humbling is the free grace of God to the wicked pride of man! His gospel has nothing for any who are able to receive it or do anything to deserve it, but gives precious hope to the most wretched offender.

We are most blessed, as Christ declared Peter to be, (Matt. 16:17) whose testimony revealed a higher learning than that which man can bestow. Lord, we bow to Thy prerogative each time we speak, write, read or hear and acknowledge that it shall profit . . . NOTHING, except . . .