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PGA Chaplain Bible Studies

Study 11 - March 24th to March 30th 2008.
Reading – John Chapter Ch14: verses 15 to 24.

Looking in From The Outside!

“If you love me, you will obey my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. He is the Spirit who reveals the truth about God. The world cannot receive him, because it cannot receive him or know him. But you know him, because he remains with you and is in you” John Chapter 14: verses 15 to 17. (Good News Bible)

There is a famous saying in golf that was said and I can’t remember who said it. It was in comparison to Tiger Woods when he said: “He plays a game I am unfamiliar with” 
We look on from the outside and wish we were that good. We all probably have at some stage in our life been on the outside..
What about God? In our reading this week Jesus clearly says there are people who will always be looking on from the outside; that is they do not know God. They do not know Jesus and cannot receive the Holy Spirit promised to his followers who obey his commands.

Like, at one stage of my life, God was a stranger. I was on the outside. Even though I knew of Jesus, I was unfamiliar with the details and the ultimate meaning of his life.
How do you get to know God beyond being a stranger? Jesus helps us. He came to make God known to us. Jesus is God’s Son. He speaks of our need to be born anew, have faith and love Jesus and obey his commands. He opens our heart and mind to God where we can move from the outside to get to know God. It is God who desires to live with us by the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus says the world cannot receive the Holy Spirit he is speaking of the world as those who have turned their back on God.

In regards to this, it is always fascinating to talk to unbelievers about God

There is a lot of books being published in recent times discounting the idea of God’s existence. You can gather evidence on both sides of the argument and cases can be put forward that are quite convincing on both sides of whether God exists.
What is certain is that both sides of the argument cannot be proven in a way that is satisfactory to everyone. I enjoyed reading a comment from the head of a science faculty at a university in America when he commented on the fact half his staff were atheists and the other half believers in God. His conclusion was that each position could be held with integrity from a human point of view. From a human point of view I agree.

But one thing is clear is that from a human point of view God cannot be known by our reasoning or wisdom. This kind of thinking keeps us on the outside. What is required is a willingness to admit that we are not the end of all knowledge. Just like there is a step of faith to say God does not exist, a step of faith is required to open our hearts to God and his way of life.

You can continue to look on from the outside and never know God’s love for you or you can humbly seek after God, taking that step of faith and embracing Jesus. Once you have done this, God will do the rest. The Holy Spirit that comes to us confirms to our hearts God’s existence God is a not being who simply lives in the sky, but one who comes into hearts that are open to him.

Prayer.
Holy God, help me to move from the outside to getting to know you. Help me to let go of my independence and to submit to the way of life you have shown us in Jesus. Amen.

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