The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Expert Status"
No experts exist in the body of Christ regarding any Biblical subject.
"And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know" (I Corinthians 8:2).
Certainly, God calls some to communicate His truth, gifts them accordingly, and sends them forth to help other believers in their walk of faith and faithfulness. We gratefully appreciate such ones, and seek to benefit from those who "who labor in the Word and doctrine" (I Timothy 5:17). We nevertheless seek to always maintain primary focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, giving Him all the preeminence, and remembering that even the most faithful communicators of "the Word and doctrine" have only just begun their eternal journey into God and His truth. "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8).
The absence of experts regarding matters of Scripture serves as an excellent motivation for all born again believers in the Lord Jesus to recognize their own privileged responsibility to read and ponder God's Word. Indeed, the Apostle Paul's counsel to Timothy echoes through the ages to all of us in this day and hour: "Give attendance to reading" (I Timothy 4:17). The indwelling Holy Spirit makes possible every Christian's capacity to attend daily seminars in the Scriptures, as it were, meeting God therein, gaining understanding of His truth, and absorbing light in a measure that results in faith and faithfulness.
"But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him" (I John 2:27).
Certainly, this does not preclude necessary benefit from those called and gifted to help us in our understanding. It does, however, direct us to exalt the Lord Jesus only, and to seek Him in personal terms of devotion whereby we expect God to enlighten and lead us. Indeed, the Holy Spirit indwells every believer as the fulfilled promise of the Lord Jesus: "When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13). We must expect such illumination, based on the Spirit's ability to teach more than our ability to learn. Realizing that He alone abides as the sole Expert to whom we look for understanding, while appreciating and availing ourselves of His called communicators, will go far in leading us to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18).
We exalt no one whose sins made necessary the suffering, forsakenness, and death of the Lord Jesus. Nor do we assign expert status to anyone who "knows nothing yet as he ought to know." Such realization will go far in personally leading us in the light of God and the glory of the Lord Jesus, as directed by the singular expert regarding truth, the Spirit of God.
"The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God."
(I Corinthians 2:11)
"Let he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
(II Corinthians 10:14)
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
(Romans 8:14)
"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye."
(Psalm 32:8)
Weekly Memory Verse
Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father.
(Galatians 4:6)
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