Food for Thought

       Eugene Petersen is quoted as saying: “If I fail to listen to this living Jesus, submit to his sovereignty and respond to his love I become arrogant in my knowing and impersonal in my behaviour.”                                                                                      

       The primary source for hearing from Jesus is studying his words from the scriptures as per Hebrews 1:1&2.  Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son.

       In Matthew 23 Jesus in some detail criticizes the teachers of religious law and the pharisees for their hypocrisy.  In short, he points out that their real lives are quite different from how God would have them live.  One question would be: “How did they get that way?”

I believe that a good part of the answer lies in the word ‘arrogant’ used by Petersen. One of the signs of arrogance is: Praising yourself: Acting as if you know everything or are smarter than everyone else.

 The teachers of religious law and the pharisees certainly appeared to take the position that they knew everything, that they were doing everything as they should.  They certainly paid little attention if any to the teachings of Jesus, teachings if they had been received thoughtfully would have demanded life change.  But arrogance isolated them from considering meaningful change.

       I think falling into the arrogance trap comes easy for us.  Over time attitudes, thoughts and actions may develop that we fail to recognize and action.  If we fail to hear the words of Jesus, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and be committed to acting on what we hear arrogance will become firmly rooted.

       Studying the words of Jesus is an important aspect of our Christian faith, but if we study without recognizing and submitting to his sovereignty and addressing the changes he calls for is in effect evidence of our arrogance.

Pastor Dave