Why Know God’s Word?
Jack Davis
“Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.” John 7:14-16.
Jesus sent with good news and teaching from God the Father, came with such an exemplary attitude. What a wonderful safeguard against going off on some tangent. Here we find the secret of how to avoid teaching error. In other words, “What I teach did not originate with me.” It’s His that sent me. Our religious old nature is so quick to take credit for anything, would like to be provocative, proclaim something new, wow our hearers, get attention, a following.
Verse eighteen gives us a hint as to what is behind the doctrines of men. “He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.” John 7:18.
Seeking our own glory, we try to say something strange or different to make a name for ourselves. What should motivate us to know the Word? “If any man will do his will, he shall know the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” John 7:17.
Our Lord is no respecter of persons. There is no excuse for a believer remaining spiritually ignorant. Let us walk in all the truth we have, and we will receive more truth, and in all the light and enjoy more light.
Knowing God’s Word, understanding it’s teaching, or being able to tell others what God’s Word teaches, no matter how much we know or how well we know whatever we know, doesn’t tell the whole story. A willingness to know God’s Word, in order to understand God’s will doesn’t quite get it altogether either.
A willingness to walk in all the will of God, will produce the proper appetite, a deep hunger to take in, and assimilate it into our innermost being. In other words, this wilingness should cause such a craving, longing to have his Word become a part of us, even more…be productive in us for God’s glory. I Thess. 2:13.
Oh, yes, our lives may be conducted in obedience to our Father’s marvelous Word; Rom. 6:17-18, and thus adorn the doctrine. Titus 2:10.
We do well to ask the Lord from the depths of our being to strengthen inwardly, trusting Him to entirely engraft and make effectual His word in us. For we cannot afford to wrestle between His will and ours. It is so good for us to settle it in our hearts, and know without question that our loving Lord’s will for our lives is absolutely the very best.
