In all exposition of truth, it is important to allow humbly the Word to be our Teacher through the agency of the Holy Spirit. It is important to allow scripture to interpret scripture and not rely on our traditional human influenced interpretations. It is vital that a student of the holy scriptures be pliable and open to truth in such a way that they like God exalt His Word above all else. If His Word says something in black and white, then I respectfully submit that it does not matter what I think or what my pastor or family or friend thinks. God’s Word is the sole authority hence one of the phrases in the early reformation movement was sola scriptura.
So what disposition or attitude are we to exercise in receiving the word preached, or taught? Paul had this to say about the saints in Berea as compared to those from Thessalonica:
Act 17:11 KJV
(11) These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
This is beautiful. Given that scripture was given for our example, the Holy Spirit must have inspired Dr. Luke to write this to show us the attitude in which he expects us to receive the Word of God. Many fall short of this admonition. Most find it easier to accept that which goes along with their traditional or denominational theological stance but very few indeed are like the Berean christians who by grace listen (or in this case read) with readiness of mind to a message that comes from an ‘alien’ camp or a message that is not aligned with their conventional beliefs with readiness of mind with the intention of searching the scriptures to see if what has been taught is truly so. The Thessalonians were not this gracious. Once the word did not align itself to their conventional beliefs, they blocked it in their minds. They received not the Word with readiness of mind. One of the most tragic yet most encouraging scriptures is found in the gospels. It reads:
Joh 1:9-12 KJV
(9) That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
(10) He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
(11) He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
(12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
The creator came to His creation yet it knew Him not. WOW! What utter dearth of truth and light. He came to His own and they knew Him not. What rejection! In fact, they killed him using the most humiliating way to put one to death–crucifixion. It is the same today.
Interestingly I believe that If many of us lived in the days that Jesus walked the earth, we too might have called Him a blasphemer for calling himself a King and the Son of God. We too might have wanted to stone Him for saying He and God were one. How dare he, we would have thought? Our disdain for him would have had religious backing too. We too may have consented to His death by crucifixion and asphyxiation. They were expecting a macho savior! They expected him to come in the way that they had chosen to use their human minds to interpret the Holy inspired scriptures. Oh how we miss the Word when He comes clothed in a form we are not familiar with, or in a form different from our theological stance. Even His own disciples did not recognize Him after the resurrection when He came in a form they were not familiar with. Not even Mary Magdalene who loved Him so much could recognize Him. It took him calling her name for her to realize it was Him—her Lord. A similar thing happened to the disciples on the way to Emmaus.
Luk 24:13-16 AMP
(13) And behold, that very day two of [the disciples] were going to a village called Emmaus, [which is] about seven miles from Jerusalem.
(14) And they were talking with each other about all these things that had occurred.
(15) And while they were conversing and discussing together, Jesus Himself caught up with them and was already accompanying them.
(16) But their eyes were held, so that they did not recognize Him.
Familiarity with and unfamiliarity with the Word can be both great stumbling blocks to receiving the Word. The previous examples are those of unfamiliarity. A case where familiarity was a stumbling block to receiving the Word was in His own hometown:
Mar 6:1-6 KJV
(1) And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.
(2) And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?
(3) Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
(4) But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
(5) And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
(6) And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
So please shirk both sides of this deadly sword and let’s take on the attitude of the bereans, receiving the Word with readiness of mind, and searching the scriptures daily with an open teachable heart to see if what was said is so. Our attitude makes the Holy Spirit open the Word to our understanding.
Why have I posted this admonition? I have given it because some of the posts that will appear on this blog may not be conventional but nevertheless, if you read with a heart open to the Holy Spirit, you will realize it is Truth. And Truth sets free when understood with the heart for Truth is Light and it obliterates all darkness just like perfect Love casts out all fear.