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:
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”
Deuteronomy 8:3
Jesus knew the value of the words that came from his Father. He ate each one as if his soul depended upon it. He told his disciples, “I live by the Father” (Jn. 6:57), and then he told them, “He who eats me shall live by me”, and “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (Jn. 6:53). Jesus speaks for God; his words are God’s words being passed along to us.
We need “second opinions” only when we are being tended to by a doctor who is “practicing medicine”. Jesus doesn’t practice medicine. Whatever the “great physician” prescribes is always exactly right the first time because he only says what his Father tells him to say. If Jesus speaks to you, don’t ask someone else for a second opinion.
“The words of God are pure words”, wrote David, “as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times” (Ps. 12:6). There are no impurities in anything God says because there are no influences on His Spirit. You can trust your soul to anything that comes out of His mouth without reservation and in complete confidence that you are entirely right (in doing what He says to do) because he is right.
Genuine faith understands that being directed by God is precious and that the course taken at His direction is perfect. Faith also knows that anyone who opposes the path God chooses must be wrong, and that the man or woman who walks on that holy path can only be right. There are no other options.
Referring to her son Jesus, Mary told the servants at the wedding in Cana, “Whatsoever he says to you, do it!” She was telling those servants, in effect, “Do not ask for a second opinion. The Great Physician has spoken.” What kind of advice do you suppose those servants would have gotten if they had asked any other person on earth, “Do you think we ought to pour water into those six pots and then serve it as wine to the wedding guests?”
What kind of counsel do you suppose Noah would have received if he had asked any man on earth, “Do you think I ought really to build an ark?”
And what opinions do you suppose that Jesus would have received if he had asked his disciples, “Do you think I ought to allow men to torture and kill me?”
When God has spoken, it is dangerous to ask for second opinions. God is right! If He speaks to you, just be thankful. Obey His word as quickly as you can so that you can attain to the reward as quickly as you can, and do not ask for a second opinion. There is only one God.