Proverbs 20:27. The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.
In the New Testament, the Bible will speak of us having three parts: body, soul, and spirit. The Old Testament, as seen here in Proverbs 20:27, speaks of us having an innermost part, the spirit. In fact, the proverb takes us back to Genesis 2:7, where God breathed into Adam (man) the breath (spirit) of life. Proverbs 20:27 uses these same two words: Adam (man) and breath (spirit). Proverbs is picking up where Genesis left off. God gave us a spirit in order to be his lamp for the searching of our inner being, our soul.
The spirit is every person’s connection to God. God knows each and every heart. He knows our motivations, affections, desires, drives, and secret thoughts. Even we don’t understand ourselves the way God does. God knows our hearts better than we know our hearts.
This may sound like bad news, and for those that are not in Christ it is. Nothing is hidden from God. God sees not only the outer behavior, but also the inner motivation behind the behavior. He sees our duplicity, our selfishness, our pride and greed. No one can claim that their good outweighs their bad in front of a God that sees the innermost parts.
However, for those that are in Christ this proverb is good news. In what way? Because we have a new spirit. The Spirit of Christ has joined with our spirit to purify the inner man. God’s omniscient understanding of our hearts no longer condemns us, but rather stirs up his great love and mercy.
1 John 3:20. for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
When we know who we are in Christ, when we trust our complete forgiveness in him, then we no longer fear the lamp of God shining on our innermost being. See if there be any wicked way in me, becomes our bold pray. The idea that God is shining the light of life on our dark hearts is one that should bring us great comfort.
God knows you. The real you. God is not hiding information about you from you. Not at all. In fact, he delights in sharing what he knows about you with you. God has given you his own Spirit to join with your spirit in order to be the light in the lamp of your inner being. The Holy Spirit is showing you what God knows about you, even right now. How? Through the piercing power of his word.
Hebrews 4:12-13. 12For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
The Word. The Spirit. Your spirit. All working together to change you from the inside out.
You: Are you letting the word of Christ, used by the Spirit of Christ, expose your innermost parts?
You in Christ: How does our union with Christ give us what we need to understand our innermost parts (the depth of our desires, feelings, and intentions)?
Christ in you: Where has Christ been shining his light on your inner being lately? How have you been responding?
Pray: Father, I’m not afraid of you knowing my inner being. Show it to me too. Let me change from the inside out into the image of your son, Jesus. Amen.
To Live is Christ 