The Scribes and Pharisees knew the Old Testament by heart yet they did not recognize the very One that came to save them in fulfillment of their Scriptures.
How should we escape so great a salvation if we reject the One sent to save us. Hebrew 2:3
We cannot let book knowledge cause us to make Christ a fan club for the elite.
1 Corinthians 13:1–13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing…
God loves the world so much that He sent His very Son, all God-all man, to suffer and die for all of us. that the world could be saved in Him! John 3:16-17
Yet although our Lord God's perfect justice requires Him to administer judgment upon sin, His perfect love has provided the only way we can be justified: the priceless gift of God's eternal grace through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Jesus came to resurrect us from the death of our trespasses and dispel the darkness of our past (Ephesians 2:1-5). No matter how "dim" we may have become in our sin (Lamentations 4:1), when we repent and accept Jesus as our Savior, we are made to shine in Christ. Bible commentator Matthew Henry expresses this: "Sin tarnishes the beauty of the most exalted powers and the most excellent gifts; but that gold, tried in the fire, which Christ bestows, never will be taken from us; its outward appearance may be dimmed, but its real value can never be changed.”
Today, let's glorify the One who came to this world as life and light (John 1:4) and paid our sin's debt in full. In humblest gratitude, may we strive to be imitators of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:1-2), the pure Gold who never grows dim.
Today, may we find our hope in "the steadfast love of the LORD [that] never ceases, his mercies [that] never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is [His] faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23). First5
Two types of thoughts continuously vie for your attention. One says, “Yes, you can.” The other says, “No, you can’t.” One says, “God will help you.” The other lies, “God has left you.” One proclaims God’s strengths; the other lists your failures.
Here’s the great news: you select the voice you hear. Why give ear to pea-brains and scoffers when you can, with the same ear, listen to the voice of God?
Turn a deaf ear to the old voices. Open a wide eye to the new choices. The scripture says, “God’s power is very great for us who believe. That power is the same as the great strength God used to raise Christ from the dead and put him at his right side in the heavenly world” (Ephesians 1:19-20 NCV). Max Lucado
Rabbi Naomi Levy reminds us, “Finding your way in life is not so much about choosing a direction. It’s about uncovering the voice of the soul, the call that is already imprinted inside you, and then finding the courage to face down your fears and let your true voice be heard. Sabbath Moments
1 Corinthians 8:1-3
We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. The New King James Version
We know that we all have knowledge appears to have been a slogan used by certain Corinthian believers as an arrogant statement against weaker Christians. The weaker Christians believed that eating food offered to idols was a sin. Other Corinthian believers thought that such concerns were ridiculous. They argued that if the idols were worthless, then the meat offered to them was fine to eat.
Paul agreed that food offered to idols was not contaminated, but he wanted the knowledgeable Christians not to flaunt their enlightened point of view. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies: This is one of Paul’s five attacks on the arrogance of some of the church members at Corinth. These people belittled their weaker brothers and sisters with their knowledge. They had missed the point. They should have been using their knowledge to help other believers in the church. The NKJV Study Bible
This knowledge may refer to general knowledge about idols or to knowledge given by the Spirit. In this context, love strengthens the faith of believers rather than destroying it.
Some Corinthian believers assumed that knowledge was the true sign of spirituality. They did not understand that knowledge without love indicates a lack of knowledge. Paul identifies love as the true basis of knowledge. Those who love God live in relationship with Him; they are known by Him. This is also the basis for godly conduct; it does not destroy other believers but builds them up. Faithlife Study Bible
1 Timothy 6:3–4 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
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