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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