Jn.7:17,18 – If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is of God, or I am speaking from Myself. The one who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
I feel like the Lord has graced me with being ability to navigate the minefields in the Christian world over these last fifty years. I think today’s passage holds the key to how I have been kept through all of the drama that we have seen during multiple seasons. There were an abundance of old cults and new cults that we had to navigate back in the 1970’s. There were the Jehovah Witnesses, the Mormons, the Way, the Children of God, as well as many charismatic side journeys that have cluttered our path over all theses years. There have been real revivals as well as the fake that have both caused quite a stir. How would one stay free and still child like through all of this? I think it goes back to the grace of God. The same grace that opened our eyes puts a child like humility in us to walk in the ways of the Lord. His grace and our yielding combine to keep us on track. Here is how Matthew Henry describes that.
“My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. They took offense because he undertook to teach even though he had never studied, in answer to which he told them that his teaching was a kind that could not be learned. It was a divine revelation. “My doctrine is not mine, but his that (that of him who) sent me….If any man be willing to do the will of God, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself….How it is that such a person will know the truth of Christ’s teaching. Christ has promised to give knowledge to such people; he has said, He shall know. Those who apply the light they have will be kept by divine grace.”
Jesus said there would be false prophets and antichrists at the end of the age. It is really important that humility keeps us from naivety. Trusting in the Lord and being willing to go against the tide of popular opinion will keep you in the most challenging times. Doctrinal error and spiritual side journeys will increase in the days ahead, hold on to Jesus and He will keep you in the way.
1 thought on “HOW WILL WE KNOW?”
That you were moved to share on this very subject, we should continue to make ourselves ready. The Holy Spirit, he is the one to usher the way, provide us with discernment, give us timely words. To be irresponsible with our light burdens and easy yokes as the weight of the world crushes those who have yet to be freed. I must ask myself, what does my time and actions reflect, myself or my Lord.