Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
“Then his disciples came to him and said, ‘Did you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard that statement?’ But he answered and said, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted. Leave them! They are blind guides of blind people. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.’ ”
Jesus, in Matthew 15:12–14
It seems difficult for God’s sheep to do as Jesus said for us to do when we perceive that a man is not speaking from God; that is, “Leave them!” Is it that the sheep have such tender hearts that they cannot bear to hurt a man’s feelings by leaving him? Is it that they fear gaining a bad reputation among men? Whatever reasons there may be, disobedience is still disobedience, and Jesus said for his sheep to “Leave them!”
Solomon gave the same wise counsel to his son: “Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you do not perceive in him the words of knowledge” (Prov. 14:7). Leaving ministers who do not teach the truth, and joining oneself to a true servant of God, is a principal part of righteousness because “he who walks with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools will be destroyed” (Prov. 13:20). Our souls’ eternal destination is too important for us to be paralyzed by fear of hurting the feelings of fools who would teach us about God, or fear of their displeasure. That is why David encouraged young Solomon to “forsake the foolish, and live! Go in the way of understanding” (Prov. 9:6). There is nothing wrong, and everything right, about forsaking the foolish.
It serves as a good warning for us to be taught that one who refuses to depart from false teachers, refuses to depart because he has already gone astray. Solomon said it this way, “The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead” (Prov. 21:16). Solomon is warning his son that a person is already outside the will of God who stays with a minister whose teaching is not the truth.
What these wise words of Jesus and other servants of God boil down to is this: sometimes, the fastest way to go astray is to go nowhere at all, but just to sit still at the feet of a man who does not know God.
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Hey John:
This is wonderful! Whew! I loved the last sentence. It made me feel very thankful and blessed that Jesus led me out of darkness and into the light of his truth and an anointed teacher! How true are these verses in Hosea, chapter 4:
6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me. Seeing you have forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget your children.
7. As they were increased, so they sinned against me; therefore, I will change their glory into shame.
8. They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
9. And there shall be, like people, like priest, and I will punish them for their ways and reward them their doings.
10. For they shall eat, and not have enough; they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase, because they have left off to take heed to the Lord.
Sandy :)