Truth Seekers Wanted

One the most maturing and difficult times I have had in my walk with God was a time when He led me to make a list of all the things that I thought were true about Him, His Word, and what it meant to be a follower of Christ. God then wanted me to list these beliefs, and categorize them into three classes. First those beliefs that were required or explicitly stated in Scripture, secondly, those beliefs that were based on church tradition, and lastly those beliefs that were a part of my personality- things I wished were true. It was a humbling experience to discover how few of my beliefs were actually stated in Scripture- and therefore definitively true- and all the others that were not. It was a lesson both in humility, and a lesson in grace. God showed me that I needed to test all beliefs/opinions by His Word and measure them to see if they were true. It gave me a measure of my maturity in Christ, i.e. how well I knew the character of God. It also reminded me to be very careful not to ascribe my opinions to God, and to be more diligent in seeking make sure of the truth of my testimony of Him. The lesson in grace I think was even more important. This lesson reminds me during fellowship/discussion, to always be ready to extend grace to a fellow believer who may hold a different opinion than I. It may be a case where one of us has just not grown enough to be ready to know a particular area of truth. God extended me grace when I held some very strong opinions which were in error, I need to do the same. Similarly, any opinion is to be measured by His Word, the totality of Scripture, so that one does not do what is right in one's own eyes, ignoring real truth as revealed by Christ and His Holy Spirit in His Word. God does not change, in Him there is no shadow of turning. His truth does not change, but due to His infinite nature and our finite nature, we will only know in part in this material realm. We grow into the Truth, this is the process of sanctification, being conformed to the image of His Son. As long as any fellowship or discussion is based in a desire to know His truth, Him, and not on defending our opinions- unity will follow. The unity is based on the person hood of God-the very life of Christ in us- not a denominational or doctrinal framework. This is where unity in and of the body of Christ are found.