I am compelled to write this after a thoughtful discussion with brother William on child-like faith, humility, and judgment. These have been on my mind as of late and I thank God for allowing me to understand better what these truly mean, hopefully turning head-knowledge into heart-knowledge.

He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. (John 12:40)

Brother William asked me this question, "Who is the 'He' that the verse is referring to?" After some thought I said God. Well, why would the writer put 'He' and 'I' in the same sentence to refer to the same person, i.e. God? Would God even purposely blind our eyes and harden our hearts? This goes against the very nature of God. William then told me, when he asked this same question to young kids, who do not have decision-making responsibilities like we adults do, the kids immediately told him, 'He' and 'I' must be different people, and therefore 'He' must refer to Satan! The parallel passage to this is here:

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Simply put, the kids had something which I lost as I grew up. That something is being obedient to the truth, i.e. having a child-like faith, being truly humble, and taking God's Word as it is, inerrant and infallible. Reflecting upon it allowed me to understand that true biblical humility and child-like faith is a standard so high that I am not even close to scratching and understanding how wonderful it is. It also gave me solace that if I ever had any doubts, I can always pray and go back to the inerrant Bible for wisdom, help, and knowledge. But what is obedience to truth? What is the truth? The ten commandments? Yes it is!

And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. (Luke 10:27)

This verse is Jesus' elegant summary of salvation, and it is the one and same as the ten commandments. This is the simplest truth of what humankind must do, and what we are here for. To love God with all our heart and all our soul, and to love our neighbours as ourselves. If we truly love our neighbours as ourselves, then we will really be humble, and we will not judge them.

Judge not, that ye be not judged. (Matthew 7:1)

However, Jesus told us to judge, because without any judgment there will not be law and order in the church, and in communities.

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. (John 7:24)

What is righteous judgment? How is it different from our typical judgment?

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Righetous judgment is judging truth (God's truth) from error. It is used to discern the good (fruits) from the bad (fruits). We are to guard our wellsprings of life from which our solace, salvation, and comfort come from.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (Matthew 7:14-15)

Ultimately it comes back down to obeying the truth: God's truth. Being able to understand and discern God's truth for ourselves, which is to love God with all our heart and all our soul, and to love our neighbours as ourselves. I am so amazed by the revelation of wisdom that was given to me today. It is truth that if we ask, He will provide! And yet, there is so much I still need to learn and experience, so that my head-knowledge can transform into heart-knowledge, and that I might grow closer in our Friend and Saviour! Amen. || posted by Kuan Hui