It’s Thursday, November 2, 2023. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you realized that you're not all you thought you were cracked up to be? It can be a rude awakening. This realization may have come with a correction, reproof, or rebuke, but however it was delivered, it can feel like a penicillin shot. Just like when the doctor tells you that you'll feel a little 'pinch,' but it's more like an uppercut followed by a body slam. However, if there ever was a teacher who was uber-gracious, it was Jesus. Read on…
Today's Reading:
Job 23,24; Mark 11,12
Scripture
“… the man replied. ‘You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’” (Mark 12:33-34)
Observation
The scribe knew what to say. He had all the answers. He even let the Rabbi know that he had answered his question quite well. If he were a Bible college student, he would score an A+ in Old Testament survey. But Jesus gave him a score that was just shy of a passing grade.
Jesus said the difference between knowing about God and 'knowing' God may seem slim, but it is actually significant. What Jesus was looking for was not knowledge about the things of God; He was searching for someone who understood what it meant to know Him personally. Jesus reminds us of that: 'On that day, many will say to me, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?" And then will I declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." (Matt. 7:22-23).
A person operating at a high level of faith could still miss the Kingdom!
Application
We, as Christians, can be great at knowing everything there is to know about submission, yet fail to submit. We can learn everything there is to know about being biblical, but we don't live biblically. We can even conduct a word study on honesty but still skirt the truth. This is why Jesus said to the scribe, "You might know much about the Kingdom, but you missed the entrance."
I truly desire to know Jesus and everything about Him: His heart, His thoughts, His Word, His ways, but most importantly, I want to know Jesus Himself! I want to learn what it means to just 'hang out' with Him more and more each day.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to not just know about the Word. Bible College and seminary can turn out good scribes, but You are looking for sons and daughters with a genuine relationship with You. Please help me not to become a scribe but rather … a son.
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