Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge;
the ears of the wise seek it out.

There is a saying that “Ignorance is bliss,” but this says that ignorance is not wise. Actually, an informed electorate is the bane of any dictator or crooked politician. In the Church, anyone who does not seek to know more of God really doesn’t understand how little they know, of God or of anything else. The way we learn more of God is by reading His Word and allowing His Spirit to illuminate our hearts. A person who is hungry for more of God will be eager to hear testi­monies from others of their experiences of Him, but someone with wisdom will filter what they hear through the Bible. After all, the Bible is clear that there are lying spirits who seek to deceive even God’s elect, if they can. (Matthew 24:24) The more we know of God through His Word, the more easily we can discern whether something is of Him or not. Combining the two areas mentioned, of politics and the Church, any church leader who is not encouraging his or her flock to dig into the Word on their own is on dangerous ground. Cult leaders down through the centuries have entrapped people by insisting that only their interpretation of Scripture is to be received. It was that attitude that triggered the Protestant Reformation, because people were actually forbidden to read the Bible on their own.

I grew up being encouraged to read the Bible on my own, and actually read through it for the first time when I was 10. I continue to read it daily, because it is so rich and deep that I continue to get new understanding even from passages I’ve read dozens of times before. As a pastor, I desire that each member of my church do the same. It is frankly a mystery to me when Christians don’t seem to have much interest in getting into the Word. Spoon-feeding pablum is not my idea of an ideal ministry! The old saying about leading a horse to water certainly applies. What I can do is pray and present the Word, and trust the Holy Spirit to work in hearts and lives. What I want to see is each member digging into the Word for themselves, with each one providing guidance and assistance to one or more others who are less experienced, so that we may all be growing together. I do believe that is what God wants for/of us, so I need to be fully available to that end and fully responsive to all He says to do.

Father, thank You for being perfectly trustworthy. Thank You for this conference I’m attending right now, and for how You have been working on and in me, and others. Help me not draw back from any­thing You say to do, but not run off half-cocked either. May I walk – run – in total obedience to You, so that Your purposes may be accomplished in and through me on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!