If
anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine… —John 7:17
The golden rule to follow to obtain spiritual understanding is
not one of intellectual pursuit, but one of obedience. If a person wants
scientific knowledge, then intellectual curiosity must be his guide. But if he
desires knowledge and insight into the teachings of Jesus Christ, he can only
obtain it through obedience. If spiritual things seem dark and hidden to me,
then I can be sure that there is a point of disobedience somewhere in my life.
Intellectual darkness is the result of ignorance, but spiritual darkness is the
result of something that I do not intend to obey.
No one ever receives a word from God without instantly being put
to the test regarding it. We disobey and then wonder why we are not growing
spiritually. Jesus said, “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there
remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there
before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and
then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24). He is saying, in essence,
“Don’t say another word to me; first be obedient by making things right.” The
teachings of Jesus hit us where we live. We cannot stand as impostors before
Him for even one second. He instructs us down to the very last detail. The
Spirit of God uncovers our spirit of self-vindication and makes us sensitive to
things that we have never even thought of before.
When Jesus drives something home to you through His Word, don’t
try to evade it. If you do, you will become a religious impostor. Examine the
things you tend simply to shrug your shoulders about, and where you have
refused to be obedient, and you will know why you are not growing spiritually.
As Jesus said, “First…go….” Even at the risk of being thought of as
fanatical, you must obey what God tells you.
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