Information or Revelation?

That is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. - Ephesians 3: 3-6As a part of our daily devotional, my wife and I decided recently to focus on the book of Ephesians. We read a chapter a day, and then write about what God is speaking to us in that chapter. A couple of days ago, I was reading Ephesians 3, and verse 3 caught my attention. A part of that verse reads, "That is the mystery made known to me by revelation." Just a week or so before I read this, my wife was telling my how God had been impressing it on her heart to read His word for revelation not information. That had really stuck with me, and it is part of the reason that this particular verse practically jumped off the page at me.As I contemplated Ephesians 3, I couldn't help but stand in awe of how amazing it is. It is pretty cool to think that there was a mystery hidden in Christ that had not yet been fully revealed to the world until it was given as a revelation to Paul. In this case, the revelation that had been hidden is that salvation was for the Gentiles as well as the Jews. I don't know about you other Gentiles, but as a Gentile myself, I am pretty excited that I can be considered an "heir together with Israel" and a "sharer in the promise in Christ Jesus". I am pretty grateful that God revealed this mystery to Paul.What is even more amazing is that this mystery was not attainable through sheer information. Paul, or any other person for that matter, could not have simply just figured this out. Paul had as much knowledge of the scriptures as any man alive at the time. He probably had them memorized and could quote them. However, without the Holy Spirit feeding him revelation, all of that information led Paul to hate, persecute, and even kill the very people that God would eventually call him to share the gospel with. Then Paul had one miraculous encounter with Jesus, and caused him to throw aside all of that information he has spent his entire life obtaining. One revelation from God changed Paul from a very smart murderer into a man who was willing to die so that the very people he once persecuted could know how much they were loved by God.Information without revelation is useless. It cannot bear fruit for the kingdom. Information without revelation is bound up purely in human wisdom, which we will use to do nothing but further the selfish agendas inside each of our hearts. This is personally convicting for me, as I can recall times where I, in the name of Christ, was really just using my knowledge of His word to try and make the world around me as I wanted it to be. Revelation from God simply does not do that, because it has to be in line with His nature. The bible says that God is love, and it also says that love is patient, kind, not envious, not proud, and not self seeking.Today, as you are reading God's word, doing a devotional, or just going about your day, I pray that God gives you a revelation of how amazing He is. I pray that you see His love, His goodness, and His patience. I pray that you gain knowledge in His word, but only through the filter of a revelation of who He is and what He has done for you. Today, let's make a conscious effort not to seek knowledge for selfish gain, but to pray for divine revelation that removes all selfishness from our souls. Revelation is far more valuable than information.Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. - Matthew 16:17Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles - 1 Corinthians 1: 20-23