Willing

So many religions. So many denominations. So many cults. So many sects. "Holy" books, preachers, gurus, mystics! What's a seeker to do? Jesus has the answer in John 7:17.

"If any man is willing to do (God's) will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak of myself."

There's that all-important "if." Our understanding of God's Word is in proportion to our willingness to do His will. That's a startling qualifier for us humans to face up to. Everyone is seeking something in life, to enhance his daily experience. We need to have some meaning and purpose to justify the air we breathe. We need to realize life on a higher plane than the merely physical. At some point, everyone starts to investigate the spiritual realm.

Many go in for the "do good" religions, always working, always seeking to improve their service to mankind, always evaluating the effects of their work as a measure of worthiness. How much is enough?

Which works are more important? How do we choose one person's need as more pressing than the needs of another?

Some seem to always be searching for a feeling; a type of ecstasy that transports one to spiritual heights. The feeling must be maintained or all is lost.

There are systems of legalism, whereby the followers constantly must keep score of their good deeds versus the personal sins in their lives as they try to achieve the perfect standard of holiness they have set as their goal. (Whose standard?)

These things go on and on, because humanity needs God, and that hunger for God will not go away until we know our relationship with Him  is secure. The problem with these religions and points systems is that there can never be enough. Man by mans effort can never be perfect. Man by mans intellect can never have real understanding of God's truth. We can never be spiritual by willing ourselves to be spiritual. We become spiritual by willing to do God's will.

That's the simple, profound secret to knowing God's truth. Those who are truth seekers must humble themselves before almighty God and make themselves "sponges" for His will. Then the doors will be opened and the blessings will be poured out. "Precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little" Isaiah 28:10.

When we are willing to do God's will, we are empty vessels to receive all He has to give us. We learn about Jesus' finished work to save us from sin. Believing that, we are born again to new life in Christ. We learn a scripture. We believe that word from God. We file that in our memory banks to be applied to our daily life. As we learn and apply more of God's word, He gives us more, and guides us to those Bible study helps and Bible teachers who can help us to greater understanding. This brings growth, stability, assurance, peace of mind. The more we understand and obey of God's word, the more we will receive. God's grace is multiplied!

"He 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." John 7:18

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord...2 Peter 1:2