The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 15:16,
"'Are you still so dull?' Jesus asked them."
This rebuke from Jesus was directed to his own disciples. As we might expect, it was the candid Peter who asked a question of Jesus about what he meant concerning what defiles a man.
The rebuke anticipates there is a reasonable length of time where various aspects of the things of God should be acquired. I'm quite certain not all things. We will never plumb all the depths when it comes to our understanding of the things of God. However, that does not negate the reality that there are things we should know within a reasonable length of time.
The writer of Hebrews speaks to this when he said, "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so." Hebrews 5:11-6:3.
As believers, God has an expectation we will avail ourselves of the Scriptures he has provided us for us to this end. Paul encouraged Timothy, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15. Here we see the part the Scriptures are to have in our lives so that we do not find ourselves "so dull". Paul goes on to tell Timothy, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
"'Are you still so dull?' Jesus asked them."
This rebuke from Jesus was directed to his own disciples. As we might expect, it was the candid Peter who asked a question of Jesus about what he meant concerning what defiles a man.
The rebuke anticipates there is a reasonable length of time where various aspects of the things of God should be acquired. I'm quite certain not all things. We will never plumb all the depths when it comes to our understanding of the things of God. However, that does not negate the reality that there are things we should know within a reasonable length of time.
The writer of Hebrews speaks to this when he said, "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so." Hebrews 5:11-6:3.
As believers, God has an expectation we will avail ourselves of the Scriptures he has provided us for us to this end. Paul encouraged Timothy, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15. Here we see the part the Scriptures are to have in our lives so that we do not find ourselves "so dull". Paul goes on to tell Timothy, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Somewhere along the way too many have determined a study of the Scriptures is the pastor's job done on behalf of believers. No, it isn't. It is the pastor's job to get folks into the Scriptures so that the Lord will not have to rebuke us: "Are you still so dull?"
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment