NEW Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought is provided by Pastor Ryun Chang who serve as AMI Teaching Pastor.
Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend
“It’s Not Enough Just to Believe”
Luke 1:1-4
“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.”
Among the books included in the New Testament, two really stand out—Gospel of Luke and Acts of Apostles produced as a two-volume set—because they are written by a Gentile, namely Luke, while all the rest are penned by Jewish people. And, as any good writer would, Luke, at the outset of his letter to Theophilus—likely a Roman sponsor of Luke’s writing project—states his purpose: “So that you many know the certainty of the things you have been taught” (v. 4). This is to suggest that it is not enough just to hear the gospel message and believe; in addition, we need to read and study God’s word so that we can be more certain of the things we have been taught.
Note that in the parable of sower, people who have no in-depth understanding of God’s word are liken to seeds sown on rocky ground, and the eventual outcome of their “faith” is not pretty. Jesus says, “And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away” (Mk. 4:16-17). Notice that the root here can stand for the depth of one’s understanding of God’s word. So, what happened? A shallow faith without a strong root crashed and burned when troubles came (as they always do in life—Jn. 16:33).
So how is your root? Maybe not too deep, much like the faith of Theophilus, probably a young believer who was at a disadvantage compared to the Jewish Christians since he didn’t know the Old Testament like the latter. While knowledge isn’t everything—in fact it can putt you up (2 Cor. 8:2)—“people [can be] destroyed from lack of knowledge” as well (Hos. 4:6). One way this can happen is when biblically illiterate believers are led astray by “deceiving spirits and things taught by demos” (a.k.a., unsound doctrines—1 Tim. 4:1b).
Pray that you may be more certain of what you believe based on 2 Peter 1:19: “And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts . . .” Diligently study God’s word. Start today.
Prayer: Dear God, help me to increase my appetite for Your eternal word. May I become tired of always being attracted to latest teachings just because they sound good. Lord, strengthen my resolve to love You with my mind as well. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 40