“When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions, having a very great retinue and camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones… She told him all that was on her mind. And Solomon answered all her questions. There was nothing hidden from Solomon that he could not explain to her. And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, and their clothing, his cupbearers, and their clothing, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.
“And she said to the king, ‘The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, half the greatness of your wisdom was not told me; you surpass the report that I heard.'” 2 Chronicles 9:1-6
“O Lord, I have heard the report of you,
and your work, O Lord, do I fear.
In the midst of the years revive it;
in the midst of the years make it known.” Habakuk 3:2
“The woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?’ They went out of the town and were coming to him…
“Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony… So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.’” John 4:28-30,39-42
A foreign royal, a prophet, a woman outcast. Seeking or sought out, each considered the words and works of the King and came to discover who He claimed to be. They pursued with effort, lingered in time, and probed with questions until the point of belief, an inextricable bloom of grace and faith.
Hearing about should never replace, but compel, firsthand investigation. When we consider the Lord Jesus, when we peruse His treasures of order, limitless bounty, wisdom, splendor, and providence, we must respond. We can deem Him disingenuous because we cannot reconcile His goodness with the evil in the world, or we can explore why things are not how they were intended to be, and that He alone has made a way through to triumph. We hold Him at bay, or we marvel in belief.
Once we’re hushed before His divinity and trust Him, we will tell. Salvation begets proclamation. Knowing Him, we want to make Him known!
Are we taking time to listen and learn from our Lord? How are we applying what He says and shows? What in our attitudes and actions exhibits His life-transforming power? Whom are we telling so they can have new life too? Passing on truth reinforces our faith and spurs growth in others. (Revelation 1:2-3)
Lord, incline me to know You better and to proclaim Your excellencies with zeal and joy.
As the rain and snow 