Much More than a Creed, Doctrine or Way of Thinking

Much More than a Creed, Doctrine or Way of Thinking

“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.”  John 12:26

It is important that we follow the Lord—not a creed, a doctrine, or a way of thinking—but the Lord Himself. We must be connected to Him, having a direct relationship with Him and not via anyone else.

In Acts 19:13, seven brothers went around driving out evil spirits saying, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” They did not know the One whom they were preaching. They are among those to whom Jesus will say on judgement day, “I never knew you. Away from me” (Matthew 7).

We need to know Him, not the doctrine or the idea of Him, but Jesus Himself. What was the response of an evil spirit to the seven brothers? “Jesus I know and I know about Paul, but who are you?” And the brothers were overpowered by the spirit. There was no power, protection, or deliverance in their rebuke.

Do we walk about preaching His name but lacking the understanding of who Jesus really is? May we press on “to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3).

Charmain Wong, Branford ’95