Pride of Knowledge

"'I am not possessed by a demon,' said Jesus,

'but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.

I am not seeking glory for myself;

but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.

I tell you the truth,

if anyone keeps my word,

he will never see death.'

At this the Jews exclaimed,

'Now we know that you are demon-possessed!

Abraham died and so did the prophets,

yet you say that if anyone keeps your word,

he will never taste death. 

Are you greater than our father Abraham?

He died, and so did the prophets.

Who do you think you are?'

Jesus replied,'If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing.

My Father, whom you claim as your God,

is the one who glorifies me.

Though you do not know him, I know him.

If I said I did not,

I would be a liar like you,

but I do know him and keep his word.

Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought 

of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.'

'You are not yet fifty years old,' the Jews said to him,

'and you have seen Abraham!'

'I tell you the truth,' Jesus answered,

'before Abraham was born, I am!'

At this, they picked up stones to stone him,

but Jesus hid himself, 

slipping away from the temple grounds."

John 8:49-59

Kids in today's celebrity-driven culture think they know those they watch on TV, in movies and in videos and concerts.  This promotes the perception that what they read about in the magazines, learn from watching interviews, and find out by listening to gossip makes these famous people their friends.  Star-watchers can claim knowledge of those they study, but without cultivating a real, mutual relationship with the object of their research, they can't claim to really know that person.

It's not so different with God.  I can learn a lot about God by reading the Bible, talking to experts, and taking classes where His ways are taught, but until I enter into my own relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ, I can't claim to know God. (Psalm 34:8) The Jewish leaders made this mistake.  Since they were experts in God's law and thought they knew everything there was to know about God without actually knowing Him personally, they missed the coming of the Messiah; They simply did not recognize Him.

I must guard against falling into the same kind of pride of knowledge by taking some simple yet profound steps.

Keep to His Teachings

There is a difference between knowing something in my head and knowing something in my heart.  The latter will change my actions and way of living while the former tends to puff me up with pride.  (1 Corinthians 8:1-3)

For instance, if I know that my husband likes his eggs scrambled with onions, peppers and ham, that knowledge alone is not enough to drive me to go through the trouble of making them in the way that pleases him.  There is a lot of work involved in beating the eggs, chopping up the vegetables, slicing the ham and cooking it just they way he likes it.  The awareness of his likes is not enough to get me to go through that kind of hassle.

My love for him, however, gives me the desire to make him happy in small ways like cooking what he likes.  Love is what makes me rise to the occasion.

In the same way, it is my love for Jesus which compels me to live my life in the way He has shown me.  It's not about following a set of rules, however, but in walking side-by-side with His Spirit as He reminds me of all that He taught. (Galatians 5:16-18, John 14:26) Only in following His lead will I be able to carry out His teachings.  In my own strength, I am not capable of pleasing God.  It is only by following Him step by step that I will be empowered to live in a way that honors God.

Billy Graham said, "Incredible as it may seem, God wants our companionship. He wants to have us close to Him.  He wants to be a father to us, to shield us, to protect us, to counsel us, and to guide us in our way through life."   He desires to go deeper with me than simple knowledge of Him.

In order to keep from falling into the trap of superficial faith, I must let His love drive me toward an intimate relationship with Him as the Lord of my life.

Know God

It's hard to get to know someone who won't be honest with their feelings.  When they put up a front that everything is okay when I know it's not, then I feel like they don't trust me enough to share openly with me. I assume there must be another friend with whom they'll confide, effectively driving a wedge in our relationship.

God is no different than I in this way.  If I only say to God what I think He wants to hear instead of what is really going on inside of me, I am sending Him the message that I don't trust Him enough to depend on Him and have confidence in Him.  Instead, I prefer to either keep my feelings inside where they will wreak havoc on my health, or to turn to someone else as a betrayal of the One who loves me perfectly.

God said through the prophet Jeremiah that when I seek God with all of my heart,  I will find Him. (29:13)  Most of the time, though, I hold back.  I may be afraid that if I completely submit to Him, He might ask me to give up something or someone I don't want to live without.  Or it could be that there are some areas in which I'm not willing to surrender control because I like to decide what I can and cannot handle.  Or I may simply want to continue living as I always have, not seeing the need to change.

When I finally make that decision to obey Him wholeheartedly, though, I will truly get to know God.  He will teach me His ways as I trust Him with my life.  He will reveal more of Himself as I open up to Him honestly.  As I offer myself as a living sacrifice, putting my life completely in His hands, I will understand more of what He desires from me. (Romans 12:1-2)

In order to keep from falling into the trap of superficial faith, I must live authentically with my Father, obeying and seeking Him wholeheartedly without any hidden agenda.

Humble Myself

My husband and I have been married for nearly 24 years.  Even with that much time racked up together, I don't know everything there is to know about him.  We continue to learn new things about each other every day.

If it takes a lifetime to get to know another human being intimately, why would I think I could gain complete understanding of God while I'm in this temporary place we like to call earth?  God's ways are so much higher than my ways and His thoughts would blow my mind if I were to know them. (Isaiah 55:8-9)   It is impossible for me to fully understand His mind.  (Isaiah 40:13)

Despite this truth, I still get into the mindset that I have Him figured out, even in some small way. I observe the way He works in me, and I assume He'll do the same for my friend.  Other times I'll remember what He said to me during past difficulties, and I'll try to apply it to today's hard times instead of letting Him work afresh.  Sometimes I think I know how He'll work so I miss when He does come through because I was looking in the wrong direction.

When I expect certain things from God, I'm not open to His lead.  If I assume He's going to heal me from sickness but it's His will to lead me through it, then I'll miss out on the blessings He had prepared for me through the pain.  When I expect to live a life of luxury and comfort as one of His children, then I'll be disappointed and may lose my faith if it's His will for me to live in poverty.  When I suppose my life will be free from heartache, then when trouble comes I won't be able to see God's hand through the struggle.

Nineteenth century French Carmelite nun Therese of Lisieux said, "We are too little to be able always to rise above difficulties.  Well, then, let us pass beneath them quite simply."  Following Jesus means that I must let Him direct my footsteps and be willing to accept what He has for me.  

In order to keep from falling into the trap of superficial faith, I must humble myself in order to be able to accept His calling and recognize His revelations.

There is a lot to learn about God.  Either I can discover Him vicariously, or I can learn directly from Him.   If I choose an intimate relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, I will avoid the snares of the Jewish leaders who only knew of Him but knew Him not.  Then I will be able  to keep to His teachings, know God as a living Father, and humble myself so that He can choose for me.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can choose intimacy above book-knowledge.

How do I tend to try to be an expert on God instead of seeking to know Him?

When do I betray the superficiality of my connection to God?