02/26/2020
When we have begun our study of the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the Word of God, have we committed ourselves to obeying and following what we find there by loving them deeply, or do we pursue these things as a matter of curiosity? Are we wanting to have a command of scripture, or to allow it to have command over us? Our motivation in learning determines what we gain by it. So how do we search the Word, and sift through the Gospel? Do we simply gain intellectually, or by a motivation founded in love do we gain eternity?
“But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”
Romans 6:17-18 ESV
I once knew a man who had a photographic memory; he could see something and remember it in perfect detail. In school he was exceptional and always made an ‘A’ in every course because he could recall the answer to every question. He had a 4.0 grade point average.
This man and I attended the Virginia Military Institute together, and late one night I heard that he had been expelled from school... because he had cheated. He hadn’t cheated because he was failing the course, but because he feared that he wasn’t going to make a perfect score in it. The goal of school for him wasn’t to learn the material so that he could apply it to his life; it had become a simple matter of getting a perfect grade... in regurgitating the answers, and achieving a certain academic excellence. You see, he had failed in school long before his one incident of cheating brought him down.
Later in life I ran across men like this in business. In similar fashion they could excel in tasks that required memory, but if their job required ingenuity, or developing a creative solution, they were handicapped, and didn’t do well at all. On the surface they appeared exceptional, but in real life they were mediocre at best.
In our faith it is the same. We can memorize as much scripture as we like, we can perform the works, and we can zoom through bible courses with ease, but if we can’t apply the true lessons behind what we have learned to our lives, and they don’t produce a deeper love, and closer relationship with God, and Jesus Christ... then our efforts are worthless... they are merely a shadow with no meaning, no depth, and no substance. We will have failed.
“"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'”
Matthew 7:21-23 ESV
The test of faith is not about rewarding pride, but in recognizing humility; the true achievement is not in the cold knowledge we have gained, but in the wisdom with which we apply it, and the greatest of all Godly attributes is not our simple obedience, knowing what faith is, or in hoping, but is the love that guides us in knowing God... in loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV
So how do we approach our quest for knowledge? What is our motivation in learning scripture, wanting the gifts of the Spirit, and exemplifying all the attributes we associate with faith? Gaining the kingdom of God is founded on the first commandment... we can all recite it, but do we live it?
“"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-6 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Holy Word, the gospel teachings of Jesus, and your
Holy Spirit who gives us understanding. Thank you for loving us so deeply Lord that you would send your Son Jesus to live, die, and be resurrected, so that our sin would be defeated, and we might have life. Thank you for allowing us to love you from the depths of our being, and to apply all that you have given us in your Word, and the gospel, so that we might love you completely, and live in relationship with you. Help us Holy Father to look deep into the things of our faith and religion to find the essence of you. Rescue us from ourselves when we become ensnared in our own pride, and understanding, while attempting to impress those around us with our command over scripture, and these other things. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who loves us beyond all understanding, and forgives us faithfully, even when we struggle mightily to forgive ourselves. We praise your name Merciful Father for the lessons you teach, and the deliverance you provide. Great are you who sits upon the mercy seat, and commands us to lift our faces up so that you can look for the love in our eyes. All glory is yours Father, and is made perfect in your grace that flows through Jesus, and finds a home in our hearts. Hear our prayers, and bask in our love forevermore as we seek you with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33 ESV
Rich Forbes