10/10/2025
Are we studying and memorizing scripture and thinking that this will make us righteous or give us insight into eternity and salvation through a scholarly understanding God? My friends, only one thing will perfect us in the eyes of God... a loving relationship and obedience. I would rather do one small thing perfectly for Him than a thousand partially while trying to intellectually understand Him.
“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 incredibly useful, but none of that, in and of itself, will get you a step closer to salvation or deepen your relationship with the Lord. There are many learned men and women destined for damnation because, although they know God’s Word, they don’t believe and obey Him. It isn’t about how much we know OF God... no, it is all about our knowing Him personally and lovingly obeying Him.
In grade school there were rules to be followed; raise your hand to speak, stay in your seat until you are dismissed, don’t talk out of turn, pay attention to the teacher. These are just examples, and if obeyed you were allowed to remain in the classroom. If, however, you didn’t obey these rules you found yourself standing in the hallway, or on your way to the principal’s office.
Our faith is much like this. If we believe, obey the basic rules, and do such things as listen, obey, and deal with our sinful nature, then we can be saved, but only by seeking our salvation first are the advancement of the other skills such as memorizing verses and studying the intricate nuances of God’s Word of any true usefulness to us.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33 ESV
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 as we would literature, but rather in believing them and obeying them... it is 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 might mean, but all of their 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, because these wise men will have never met Jesus or known God... just as certainly as they will have never met or known Shakespeare.
So, back to my grade school years… 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 stand in the hallway. I wore a spot on the floor just outside the classroom door as I stood there day after day in disobedience. I had a favorite chair in the principal’s office, and the office 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 for us in perfect obedience, 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 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-hewn wood of the cross and pooled on the ground below? Isn’t that why children can understand what is required of them... and 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?
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
John 3:16-17 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your Holy Word, but I thank you more for circumcising my heart and preparing me to receive it as a child. Thank you for forgiving me over and over again as I perfected the basic tenets of faith. Thank you for the simple love, 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 studying you I could assure my salvation by more than a thimble full. Your grace is beyond my understanding. Your grace cannot be improved upon by my study, knowledge, and determination. Your grace thrills the innocent boy that I guard selfishly within me. The child in me grasps this and asks 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.” See and know my heart as I love you with all of it. Abba, embrace me and hold me tight as you tell me of my family heritage, of my joint heir Jesus, and of you.
Amen, Amen, Amen!
Rich Forbes