The Daily Fountain Devotional Monday, December 5, 2022
The Daily Fountain Devotional Monday, December 5, 2022
Monday, December 5, 2022
TOPIC: GOD-KNOWLEDGE, NOT HEAD-KNOWLEDGE
TEXT: Mark 12:28-34
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
The Daily Fountain Devotional Monday, December 5, 2022
INTRODUCTION TEXT
In our text today, a Scribe came to Jesus with a question. When we look it on the surface, his question to Jesus appears simple and innocent. However, a deeper look would reveal that this presumably learned Scribe actually came with a double motive. First, he came to test Jesus. He wanted to see if Christ was really as knowledgeable as people thought he was, and perhaps to expose Jesus at some point of ignorance. His second motive was to display his own level of knowledge of Scriptures to the admiration of the public. He wanted everyone around to know what a capable professor he was! But Christ knows the depth and content of every heart; He can never be deceived.
The very clear message here is that head-knowledge does not equal God-knowledge. Knowing about God does not mean knowing God. Many professors of theology know about God but yet have no experiential knowledge of Him. To know God is to submit your life to the Kingship and Lordship of Christ; to live your life in complete obedience to the word of God; to love and worship God, and to also love people in the way you love yourself (see 1 John 4:19-21). Head knowledge may bring you close to God's Kingdom but only God-Knowledge will take you into it!
Prayer: Lord, please help me not to only know about You, but to know You intimately and personally. Amen.