10/10/2017
Are you studying and memorizing scripture and thinking that this will make you righteous or give you insight into God? My friends, only one thing will perfect you in the eyes of God... obedience. I would rather do one small thing perfectly than a thousand partially.
“At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;”
Matthew 11:25 ESV
Increasing our education in theological matters is a wonderful pursuit, and being able to quote scripture is useful, but none of that, in and of itself, will get you a step closer to salvation. There are many learned men and women destined for damnation because, although they know God’s Word, they don’t obey. It isn’t about the knowing... it is all about loving obedience.
In grade school there were rules that were set forth; raise your hand to speak, stay in your seat until dismissed, pay attention to the teacher. These are just examples, and if obeyed you were allowed to remain in class. If, however, you didn’t obey these rules you found yourself in the hallway, or on your way to the principal’s office.
Our faith is much like this. If we obey the basic rules; if we do such things as listen, obey, and deal with our sinful nature, we can be saved, but only following our salvation is the advancement of other skills such as memorizing verses and studying the intricate nuances of the Word of any use to us.
Jesus said that things were hidden from the wise and knowledgeable, and revealed to little children. He said this because following Him and serving God are not about studying these things, but rather in believing them and obeying them... they are about loving God without reservation, and to the point of blind obedience.
Wise men and scholars have written much about what the Bible says, and about what certain passages of scripture mean, but all of those words and scholarly musings are worthless until their hearts are circumcised and the Word of God is internalized and obeyed. Without that, then the Bible might as well be any other literary work, and they have never met Jesus... just as certainly as they have never met Shakespeare.
Once I had mastered the basic rules of the classroom and followed them because I developed a love for what I was studying and wanted to remain in class to learn more, then the rest of my education was possible. Until I loved and felt a part of what was going on in the classroom I was doomed to the hallway. I wore a spot in the floor just outside the door as I stood there day after day in disobedience. I had a favorite chair in the principal’s office, and the secretary knew me by first name and would simply nod her head at my seat when I walked in. I wasn’t there because I was dumb, or because my grades were bad... I was there because of disobedience.
Until we love Jesus Christ like a child, and follow God’s desire in perfect obedience, then all of the rest of it is just academic self-indulgence. God would rather that we do the few basic things of faith perfectly than to know all of the many intricate things, and do them poorly, or not at all. You see, faith isn’t about the cold details, it is about the warm breathing love of God. Isn’t that why Jesus came to save us? Isn’t that why his blood ran down the rough wood of the cross and pooled on the ground below? Isn’t that why a child can understand what is required of him... what to believe in order to receive salvation? Isn’t that the difference between wrestling with scripture, and simply trusting and obeying it with all our heart?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for revealing your Word to me, but I thank you more for circumcising my heart and preparing me to receive it as a child. I thank you for forgiving me over and over again as I perfected the basic tenets of faith. I thank you for the simple trust and obedience of a child that you placed within me. Father, I love you even though I can’t possibly understand you completely. Forgive me Lord for all those times when I thought that by learning more of you I could increase my salvation by even a thimble full. Your grace is beyond my understanding. Your grace cannot be improved upon by my study and determination. Your grace thrills the innocent boy that I guard selfishly within. The child in me grasps this and I ask that you restrain the adult within me as he attempts to take control of my salvation. Holy Father you love me for no apparent reason; you love me simply because I am your child... teach me to obey as the innocent boy that I am grasps to hug your leg. Place your hand upon my head and say “Let’s try again” until you are pleased with me and my sins are no more. Hear me Holy Father as I sing my simple songs of love to you because I know without thinking that “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
Rich Forbes