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Free PDF eBook<\/strong> containing all of Year 3<\/p>\n Print PDF<\/strong> of this lesson<\/p>\n Open-mindedness is a good quality. But good qualities do not operate in isolation. They must be applied wisely and balanced with other equally important principles. When it comes to open-mindedness, someone has cleverly said that our minds are like our mouths: we open them in order to close them on something solid. There comes a time when, having open-mindedly sought the truth, we ought to hold on to the truth we have gained. Especially in matters of religion, it is important that we not let settled truths get away from us. We ought to hold on to what we know God has revealed.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n In both the Old and the New Testaments, we are warned that we must neither add to nor take away from God\u2019s word (Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18,19; etc.). Holding on to what God has revealed, just as He has given it to us, requires both courage and humility. If our courage fails us, we may not do all that God has said. We may fear that some of God\u2019s instructions will bring about undesirable consequences, so we leave off the parts we deem inexpedient or inconvenient. On the other hand, however, if our humility fails us, we may go beyond what God has said, supplementing what we know He has revealed with additional \u201ctruths\u201d of our own discovery.<\/p>\n A common plea of those who have done either less or more than God said is that there were \u201cextenuating circumstances.\u201d \u201cI had no choice but to do as I did\u201d is frequently heard, as well as \u201cI was deceived.\u201d The thought that runs through almost every rationalization is that our intent was to do things God\u2019s way eventually, but following a different path was \u201cnecessary\u201d in the short run. We \u201chad\u201d to bend the rules to get through the present emergency.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, the firm foundation of what God has once and for all revealed stands in contrast to all the opinions of human wisdom about what is \u201cnecessary.\u201d As for our own judgment, we should have a healthy skepticism about how reliable it is. \u201cTrust in the Lord with all your heart,\u201d Solomon said, \u201cand do not lean on your own understanding\u201d (Prov. 3:5). So are we content to hold on to the truths that God has given us? We certainly should be. Throughout the coming week, let\u2019s \u201cbuy truth, and do not sell it\u201d (Prov. 23:23).<\/p>\n Key Idea:<\/strong> By deceit, Satan will attempt to break our confidence in what God has said.<\/p>\n Questions for Family Growth:<\/strong> Think carefully: in order to persuade Eve to disobey God, what was the basic lie about God that Satan had to get her to believe? What concern for his brethren did Paul express in 2 Cor. 11:3?<\/p>\n Wisdom for the Day:<\/strong> Proverbs 11:7,8.<\/p>\n Key Idea:<\/strong> Disobedience shows a lack of confidence that God\u2019s way will work.<\/p>\n Questions for Family Growth:<\/strong> How might Uzzah have rationalized or explained his disobedience? What was the mistake in his thinking? Do we ever have to disobey God? Consider 1 Cor. 10:13. How are trust and obedience connected?<\/p>\n Wisdom for the Day:<\/strong> Proverbs 11:9.<\/p>\n Key Idea:<\/strong> It takes both courage and humility to obey God\u2019s instructions.<\/p>\n Questions for Family Growth:<\/strong> What principle is taught in Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18,19; etc.? Why is taking away from God\u2019s word a failure of courage? Why is adding to God\u2019s word a failure of humility?<\/p>\n Wisdom for the Day:<\/strong> Proverbs 11:10,11.<\/p>\n Key Idea:<\/strong> We should measure alleged new revelations by what we know God has already revealed.<\/p>\n Questions for Family Growth:<\/strong> Why should the young prophet not have believed what the old prophet said? What were the Bereans commended for doing in Ac. 17:11? Is there any way to avoid the hard work of testing for truth?<\/p>\n Wisdom for the Day:<\/strong> Proverbs 11:12.<\/p>\n Key Idea:<\/strong> We ought never to give up truths that have been revealed by God.<\/p>\n Questions for Family Growth:<\/strong> In religion, is the word \u201ctradition\u201d always a bad word? What are the traditions we are told to hold on to and never give up? What does Paul say in Gal. 1:6-9? What mark of maturity is in Eph. 4:14-16?<\/p>\n Wisdom for the Day:<\/strong> Proverbs 11:13.<\/p>\n Gary Henry \u2013 WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com<\/p>\nMonday: Genesis 3:1-7<\/h2>\n
Tuesday: 2 Samuel 6:5-7<\/h2>\n
Wednesday: 1 Samuel 13:8-15; 15:1-23<\/h2>\n
Thursday: 1 Kings 13:11-19<\/h2>\n
Friday: 2 Thessalonians 2:15<\/h2>\n