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Riverside Bulletin--11-02-08--"What not next?"
What not next?
I ran across this telephone conversation recently. "Who's calling?"
asked the voice on the phone.
"Watt," was the reply.
"What's your name, please?"
"Watt's my name."
"That's what I asked you. What's your name."
There was a long pause and then Watt asked, Is this James Brown?"
"No, this is Knott."
"Please tell me your name."
He replied, "Will Knott."
Whereupon they both hung up in exasperation. Wow, what not next? Or
should I say, Watt Knott next? Ha!
Have you ever been a party to a colossal misunderstanding? Have you ever said,
"I wish we had put that down in writing." Have you ever been in the company of
someone who agreed to do something or proposed something only to find out later
that he vehemently denied any knowledge of it? Peter told Jesus that when the
chips were down, he would die for Him, Matthew 26:35; Luke 22:33. But when the
crucial moment to acknowledge Him came, Peter acted as though he had never heard
of Jesus, Matthew 26:69-75. That was, however, not a matter of confusion but an
act of cowardice. Fear of reprisal often makes people "forget" what they
promised.
Peter misunderstood Jesus' lesson on "servant-leadership" and humility when at
first he refused Jesus' offer to wash his feet, John 13:6-8. Jesus made it clear
that no "foot-washing" meant "no part" in his ministry, John 13:8. Peter's
customary impulsiveness demanded a "full body wash," which was again "missing
the point." Peter's offer to build three tabernacles at the transfiguration for
Jesus, Moses and Elijah was another one of his colossal misunderstandings,
Matthew 17:4-8. Peter's actions would have acknowledged all three as being of
equal authority, while God wanted the inner sanctum of disciples to
know that Jesus had superseded them. God decreed, "Listen to Him,"
Matthew 17:5. The work of Moses in the law and the work of Elijah,
representative of the prophets, had all culminated and climaxed in Jesus, the
Christ of God. All authority was and is now vested in the man who washed the
disciples' feet, see Matthew 28:18-20.
Misunderstandings have devastating consequences when one holds firmly to a
doctrine that is Biblically unsound. Some think "faith alone" saves. As vital as
it is, it does not, James 2:24. Some think that grace will overlook all sins,
deliberate and inadvertent. Though we cannot be saved without grace, it will not
save the persistent, unrepentant sinner, Romans 6:1-4. In Christ we have liberty
not license, Galatians 5:1, 13-15. We are free to do His will. We are not free
to live as the heathen do.
Misunderstanding also alienates brethren from each other. Some attribute a bad
motive or a hidden agenda to another during a conflict. Then without
investigating whether their theory is true or not, they assume it to be the
truth. Now they treat each other as though the negative motive has been
established. The whole conflict then is based on a "straw-man" conclusion. My
brethren, these things ought not so to be. There is not a vestige of Christian
love in such actions. Never be like a bear with a sore head--it is never
productive of any good. Jesus said, "Go work it out," Matthew 18:15-20. Paul
described in detail what love is by what love "does," 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. So
let's practice love. Let's practice "servant-leadership" and God will be
glorified. Let's not ask, "What not next?"
Love you all,
Al ```````-"the Horne of Africa"
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