Stretching Our Thoughts
Wrestling with Scripture
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
This week I wanted to share with all of you the article from Desiring God that I referenced in my sermon. Recently, I have been frequently asked about what we believe when it comes to different doctrines. This reminds me of a conversation my father-in-law had with Bethany when she asked him, “Dad, what do we believe about…?” His response was one I will always remember. He told her, “I know what I believe about that, but I have no idea what you believe.”
Of course, as a church we do have core values and doctrines that we hold as part of our beliefs and practices, but it doesn’t supersede God’s command for each one of us to know what we believe and why. Paul tells the church to work out their faith with fear and trembling. This means we don’t just take everything offered to us as Gospel truth. No, like Bereans, we search the Scriptures, we read, we study, and we invest time in thinking about and understanding what God has said. So, this week, I submit to each of you the article that encourages us to seek God in an area that is often uncomfortable for the average church--spiritual gifts.
But I do challenge you to be like the Bereans in searching the Scriptures. We all must search eagerly, being open-minded and hopeful, as we trust the Spirit to lead us and be the very Helper and Counselor Jesus promised He would be.
As you read, take time to pray, asking God to help you understand the passages you are reading. Look up the passages, cross reference them with other passages, and see what the Bible says. After studying, see what other trusted teachers have said about those passages. Talk with trusted men and women from the fellowship who have demonstrated an understanding of the Scriptures and ask them questions. Take time to ask, seek, and knock! And in the end, may God unify us in Christ and cause us to extend grace and kindness to one another as we each grow in the faith.
desiringgod.org/articles/why-we-must-earnestly-desire-spiritual-gifts
