Not Advanced Math!

I do not believe advanced math is easy.

While I’m grateful for the tremendous mathematical knowledge some people possess —and the great contributions to society that have consequently accrued owing to the admirable acuity of mathematicians— anything mathematical beyond a certain point is like a foreign language to me.

I have friends who love math and speak almost poetically regarding what they call its beauty and science, but I have never caught the math bug.

As a youngster in school, I was more than capable in basic math, but once I got to high school and was exposed to a more advanced form of the discipline, I was out of my depth. Unfortunately, some people are like that with the Bible. “Jesus loves me, this I know” they are able to grasp and appreciate, which is important and good. But push on much past that into biblical concepts that require more insight, and Bible study becomes a journey into the unknown. Jesus shared a simple, basic, yet vitally important key that makes the Bible come alive and opens up significant stores of knowledge to Bible students. Jesus told us that if anyone wants to do His will, “he shall know concerning the doctrine” (John 7:17). These few words indicate that a person’s understanding of God’s Word has everything to do with their attitude.

God says that if we bring a surrendered, obedient heart to the study of the Bible, our knowledge of the Bible will grow as we are willing to do His will. In Psalm 119:105, David described God’s Word as a lamp and a light.

Anyone following the light on a dark pathway knows that if the light is followed, one can stay on the pathway. Should a person neglect to follow the light, the person will be left in the dark and ultimately become hopelessly lost.

A heart that holds itself back from God is likely to find the Bible difficult to understand and insights into God’s Word hard to come by.

But, if you open your heart to God, His Word will come alive in your life.