I wanted to have a conversation recently with a younger friend who considers herself a Christian. Unfortunately, we couldn’t have that conversation because of her very limited understanding of the Bible and what it says about being a follower of Christ. There was no getting past her world view to enable us to discuss God’s view. As you can imagine I tried, but to no avail.
The answer of why can’t I have a sweet and peaceful discourse with another Christian with opposing views may be that we do not believe the same tenets of Christianity. So how is it that two Christians can have such totally different understandings of what Jesus expects from our lives? I believe it is due to knowledge of God’s Word. My young friend does not believe that reading the Bible is necessary to her faith. I do.
This friend has an extremely limited knowledge of the Scriptures and yet has strong views based on what she feels would be God’s desires. I can see clearly that her world view is based on “God imagined.” Humans are created by God – we should want to learn from our Creator. If she truly knew what was on God’s mind it would cause a major turnabout of processing for her thoughts. Even this small missing piece of scriptural knowledge has skewed her understanding because she does not know, or wish to know, God’s direction for her life.
Even as I have been praying for this young friend for years God has been working to inform her in other ways. Being a voracious reader, she picks up her reading materials at used book sales. In this way God has recently placed some faith-filled books with intriguing titles on her reading list. It made me smile to learn of God’s perfectly designed happenstance.
Although we do not always see God’s work every day as we pray for others, we should not doubt that He is answering our prayers in one way or another. This answer to prayer gives me great hope not only for my friend but for her entire extended family as well.
Knowing God’s Word gives us a clearer understanding of God. We can make up all sorts of thoughts in our mind about how God would see this issue or that issue, but they would seldom be correct. God has addressed much in His Word, and we must read it to know His outlook. Most importantly we see that God is holy, and He expects the same from us.
In my daily devotions I recently read a few stories that depict holiness very clearly. The most obvious one is the rebellion against Moses by Korah and some of his fellow Levites. You can read this amazing incident in the book of Numbers – a book sometimes considered dull! At the ending of the story Korah and 250 men were burnt to a crisp by a fire sent by God because they doubted the holiness of the Lord’s chosen leaders, Moses and Aaron.
Each of the 250 men carried a censer filled with incense that were also burned but removed from the fire because they, the censers, were considered holy. God determined the men were unholy and they died, but the censers they carried were holy and retrieved. What a shocking finish, eh? Even second-guessing God I could not have written that ending. God works in ways beyond my understanding, but it is good, as His child, that I try.
From reading this story I find that holiness is important to God and therefore holiness should be important to me. I then need to understand what holiness entails. I cannot grasp this unless I know the voice and heart of God, which I learn through reading His words to see His actions. In this way, by seeking God’s heart I become more in tune with His will for my life and how to seek the holiness He desires in me which, of course, will affect my understanding and view of how to live in this world.
Knowing God’s words guides me to judgments and decisions that will be pleasing to Him and bring blessings to me. My life is enhanced greatly by treasuring the holy Scriptures because they guide my heart to be in concert with God’s heart. His words are His gift to me, and by knowing them I now know God’s truth and can better discern between the deception I come in contact with in the world and God’s pure and holy truth.
Jesus tells me, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
It is for every Christian’s wisdom and benefit to recognize God’s holy truth.
Editor’s note: Amy Patsch writes from Ocean City. Email her at writerGoodGod@gmail.com.
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