The Word Is for Humble Hearts
John 3:11
In
John, Jesus says to Nicodemus, a leading Jew and teacher, "I tell you most
solemnly, we speak only about what we know and witness only to what we have seen
and yet you people reject our evidence."
My
Jerusalem Bible gives the following reference to this verse with tons of Bible
verses to support the text: "Jesus does not speak on his own initiative, he
declares what he has seen 'with the Father'; it is the Father's words and
teaching that he hands on to man. He is Himself the Word. This Word is not idle;
it calls all things from nothing, it calls the dead from the tomb, and it gives
life to the soul. It confers the Spirit, the source of immortality, and so makes
men children of God. It is required only that man should have faith in the Word
dwell in it, keep it, and obey its command which is love. Nevertheless, the
Word is enigmatic (mysterious and unknowable) and difficult. It makes its way
only into humble hearts. Those who hear it, therefore, respond differently
some believe, others go away disappointed in spite of the signs. This same
rejected Word will judge them at the last day."
The bold text supports the verse
so wonderfully. The humble heart is one that doesn't assume to know more than
others (it is open to God's Word), it has compassion for its fellow man, it is a
seeking heart that is looking to know God, whether its owner realizes this or
not. The owner only knows that he or she feels like something is missing from
his/her life.
If you have such a feeling, I
guarantee that buying something grand or getting a great raise isn't going to
fill that void. It will overshadow it for a short time; but then, the void will
be right back there, gnawing at you. You know it's time to begin seeking God
through prayer and His Word, Jesus.
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