Posts Tagged ‘believe’

 A quick search of Scripture for the words “mind, meaning, believe, truth, understanding, know,” and “knowledge,” yields over 3,000 separate references. God’s Word has much to say about our minds. At times, I look in the Bible and wonder how the disciples could miss obvious meaning in words spoken by Jesus Christ. In Luke 18:31-33 the Twelve are specifically told of the approaching death of Jesus, but we are informed that they didn’t understand any of what was said. “Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.” (How often is the meaning of God’s Word hidden from us?)

After the resurrection and all the rumors of Christ being alive again, the disciples received another opportunity to hear the teaching of the Messiah. Luke 24:44-45 says, “He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”  Christ then reminded them of the promised gift of the Holy Spirit from the Father, and told them to wait in the city of Jerusalem until they were clothed with power.

The beauty of worshiping God in spirit and in truth is that God is the originator of both. Pray that he will open our minds to the understanding of the Scripture, and that he will clothe us with power to do his will and bring him glory.

”The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.”           Proverbs 18:17 (NIV)

How do we know who or what to believe? Here is one example of differing advice from different sources, in 2 Chronicles 32 (NIV)

• Hezekiah told the children of Israel, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.”  (verses 7 and 8a)
• The people gained confidence from what Hezekiah told them. (verse 8b)
• A messenger from Sennacherib came and questioned the wisdom of what Hezekiah had told the people. He suggested that Assyria was much stronger than all nations and that no god could protect people from the power of Assyria. (verses 10-19)
• Hezekiah went to God in prayer. (verse 20)
• “The LORD sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king.” (verse 21)

Hezekiah and his people were wise to not heed the advice of the questioning messenger from Sennacherib, even though on the face of it the messenger had a good argument. Assyria had conquered many nations and peoples far greater than the Israelites. They just hadn’t come up against the God of Israel. The LORD gives wisdom liberally to those that ask. Hezekiah sought the LORD and wasn’t swayed by the worldly argument that questioned his wisdom.

 In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the parable of soils and then explains what it means. In the explanation of that parable, some individuals had received the Word when presented, but then fell away later. They didn’t stand their convictions because they had no roots. They lacked wisdom. James 1:5-8 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

 “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.”          Proverbs 14:15 (NIV)

During His sermon on the mount, Jesus exhorts us to “Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.”  James tells us to draw near to God and He will draw near to us. The author of Hebrews proclaims, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (NIV)

Do we believe in the Word that was made flesh and dwelt among us enough to earnestly seek Him? Do we believe in the faithful and just God that chooses to forgive and cleanse us and declare us righteous? Or are we like the voice from Psalm 10:4 who in his pride  does not seek Him;  in all his thoughts there is no room for God?