“IF ANYONE’S WILL IS TO DO GOD’S WILL” – Christadelphian thoughts based on the daily readings for 15th April 2016

Our chapter (25) in Proverbs starts, It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.”
[v.2]
Surely this is a challenge to those who (from their hearts) seek a relationship with God. This begins by being baptised into the name of His Son, an action which brings them into a wonderful and close relationship with the divine!
We therefore should, indeed MUST, search out what God has concealed – this is the challenge to us as we read, absorb and meditate on the Scriptures God has caused to be written and preserved – and which are now largely translated into all languages. In reading the Proverbs we see them as a “mine” from which Jesus extracted and developed several of his parables.
Today’s chapter 7 in John’s gospel is an outstanding example of scripture that challenges us in the way we live our lives. We read how “about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching.”
[v.14]
He makes a particularly challenging statement, “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God …”
[v.17]
Jesus then makes a point about the purpose people have in teaching. The religious leaders did so to strengthen their own authority before the people – but Jesus said, “the one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.”
[v.18]
Jesus tells those who are challenging him to “judge with right judgment.” Instead of judging “by appearances”
[v.24]
Let us make sure we ” judge with right judgment” searching God’s word diligently and sincerely, comparing Scripture with Scripture. Remember how the disciples on the road to Emmaus said ” “Did not our hearts burn within us while he (Jesus) … opened to us the Scriptures?” [Luke 24 v.32]
Paul in Thessalonica, ” reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead ….” [Acts 17 v.2,3] This would be, of course, the Old Testament scriptures, sadly so many neglect these today.
May it be our “will to do God’s will” and, as we will read in John ch. 8 tomorrow, follow in the footsteps of Jesus as genuine heart-committed disciples, who say, with Jesus, “I do know him (God) and I keep his word.”
[v.55]
By Bro D.Caudery