THE QUESTION: Can I be a Christian even if I don't understand everything?

WE BELIEVE: We are saved by faith, not by understanding.

A STORY: A man's dog had died in a fire. The animal perished because his master had told him not to leave the lunch he had prepared for his mid-day meal. Deeply upset, the owner of the dog said, "I always had to be careful what I told that dog to do, because I knew that he would do it".

ANSWER THIS:
List some of the things that you accept by faith and without complete understanding:



GOD SPEAKS: When the fire was coming near him, there is no doubt that the dog didn't understand exactly why he had to guard his owner's meal. He only knew that his master had spoken, and it was his duty to follow the orders he had been given. He had faith that his owner knew what was best for him. In a similar way, there are many things that our great and wonderful God tells us that we may not totally understand. True, the Lord wishes us to use our minds and our judgment in many areas, but when we cannot understand, at such a moment, it is our duty to listen and accept God's word on faith. Thankfully, our God is more farsighted than was the owner of the dog. Everything that God tells us is for our good and is designed to save us rather than hurt us.

Christians know that we cannot "out think" God. That is why the Lord says we need to listen to Him with faith in our hearts and minds and become empowered to live the Christian life. To encourage faith in our hearts and give us the guidelines that we need, God says:

• we should trust in Him with all our hearts and not believe in our own wisdom and understanding (Proverbs 3: 5)
• His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. As far as the heavens are above the earth so are God's ideas greater than those of the wisest of men. (Isaiah 55: 8-9)
• Any man who is thinking without the Spirit of God cannot receive the promises that God makes. The Lord's gifts can only be received by those who think in a spiritual way. (1 Corinthians 2: 14)
• Since the beginning of time, man has seen God's handiwork in creation. Nevertheless, man has refused to acknowledge or thank God for all that He has done. (Romans 1: 20-21)

If we are to worship the God who has saved us, it must be on His terms and according to His conditions. With that in mind we agree with the writer of the book of Psalms who said:

• "Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his" (Psalm 100: 3).

THIS PART OF OUR LESSON ASKS:
Tell us why you feel comforted by following a God Who's thoughts and ways are so far above your own:



What do you think is the difference between understanding and faith?

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