OBEDIENCE BEFORE UNDERSTANDING?

OBEDIENCE BEFORE UNDERSTANDING?

John 7:17

17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

Mark 9:24

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

          We generally think that the reason unbelievers do not believe and obey the Scriptures is because they do not understand them. In fact the opposite is probably true. They do not understand because they are unwilling to obey. We want complex religious concepts tied neatly with ribbon and presented to us in completely logical and understandable ways. We approach Christ in the same way as Star Trek’s Dr. Spock. We cock our head and declare that following Christ is illogical.

          The following comment on John 7:17 may clear things up a bit. “I will give you a sure rule by which ye may judge of my doctrine: If you really wish to do the will of God begin the practice of it; and take my doctrine, and apply it to all that you know God requires of man and if you find one of my precepts contrary to the nature, perfections, and glory of God, or to the present or eternal welfare of men, then ye shall be at liberty to assert that my doctrine is human and erroneous…” (From Adam Clarke's Commentary.)

          An honest desire to obey God is the easiest way to become acquainted with the truth. The fact is that we bring too many prejudices into our investigation. We do not want a truth that challenges our behavior. We want a truth that confirms our deliberations and decisions. We don’t want change until what we currently have becomes so painful we seek something else! But we fear that we will trade our current pain for something even more painful. We become closed to the possibilities of God. When challenged about His teaching, Jesus applied the only reasonable answer. He said “Try it.”

          I wonder just how many people sit in church each week clouded by the fog of stubborn disobedience and therefore ignorant of God’s truth? When you challenge them they will say that they can’t obey God until they understand when, in truth, they can’t understand until they are willing to obey!

Dear Lord, give me a heart that is willing to obey so that I might also have a mind that understands. AMEN