Reading with borrowed ability

...for the activity and the goal.



The goal is faith in our teacher, the activity is reading among the readers but in the presence of our Father.

Matthew 23:6-10
"They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. "But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. "Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ."

We do well to study in, and for, a loyal and trusting recognition of Jesus. It would be a shame to study the scriptures, thinking that in them we have eternal life, and miss our opportunities for a living fidelity toward Jesus. The faith of Jesus is our goal.

The mentality that says "we are standing on the shoulders of giants" may not be the most accurate perspective. We appreciate the accurate teaching of gifted teachers who have rightly read the scriptures. Yes, we gladly read among "the readers" but if their insights are correct the correctness belongs to the LORD! The truth of the Gospel is indestructible, yet our ability to grasp and submit to it is fragile. For our studying to be done well, in the sight of God...for the activity to be conducive to our real goal...we depend on the LORD...immediately.

Confidence in the Lord should be at the heart of our studying. And so self-confidence in our ability to read and submit to it might be counter-productive. In fact even self-confidence in our ability to pick our favorite reader, or school of readers could produce the wrong effect; especially when we note the tendency to shift our loyalty away from the proper object. I think the teaching of Christ referenced above addresses our tendency to think of our communion with God as derived rather than direct. In reality both our proper reading and proper submission are an activity of directly meeting with the Lord. Our temple,the meeting place between God and man, is not made with hands.