From Theology to Testimony
An awesome Christian author by the name of Marshall Segal wrote in his daily devotional blog, "Too often we have loved what we have learned about God more than God himself, and when we do, our lives remain essentially the same." There is so much fire in that statement! Let's be real, you may know everything about the sanctuary, Daniel & Revelation, and even Bible verses on relationships, but in the end of the day, that doesn't necessarily change your heart and your love towards God. So what does?
1) Meditation Brings Elevation
Not through controversy and discussion is the soul enlightened. We must look and live. Nicodemus received the lesson, and carried it with him. He searched the Scriptures in a new way, not for the discussion of a theory, but in order to receive life for the soul. He began to see the kingdom of heaven as he submitted himself to the leading of the Holy Spirit. – Desire of Ages by Ellen White
This quote is referring to Nicodemus' conversion experience. Get this, Nicodemus was a pharisee and just like any other pharisee, they would have a good amount of scriptural knowledge. But why does Nicodemus have a conversion experience that drew him nearer to Jesus while the other pharisees didn't? The answer is found in the quote above! Many of the pharisees would spend countless hours studying the scriptures for the wrong reason. They studied the scriptures in order to have somewhat intellectual conversations, to debate, to rebuke people, and who knows what else they used it for. However, Nicodemus studied the scriptures with a pure heart. He simply studied it to receive life for the soul!
It seems that we often are left unchanged because we study the scriptures for the wrong reasons. We study it because we feel that as Christians we have to know a little something about the gospel. Which is true, however we should really be studying the scriptures so that we may fall in love with Jesus. For goodness sake, I read majority of the Great Controversy in order to get an A in Bible class. I got the A but nothing else out of my time reading that book. There was a lack of experience not because there is no power in the Great Controversy, but because I read it without a heart seeking for God. It's one thing to read the Bible because it is something you have to do, but you truly experience it when you read it because God wants to speak to your soul! There are some who read the Bible for discussion and some who read it for instructions, which one are you?
2) Prayer turns theology into experience
Prayer turns theology into experience. Through it we sense his presence and receive his joy, his love, his peace and confidence, and thereby we are changed in attitude, behavior, and character. . . . Prayer is the way that all the things we believe in and that Christ has won for us actually become our strength. Prayer is the way that truth is worked into your heart to create new instincts, reflexes, and dispositions - Prayer by Timothy Keller
We see love, compassion, forgiveness, meekness and hundreds of different topics throughout the scriptures, but in order to receive it into our hearts, we must pray for it. Theology comes from studying the word of God and experience happens through praying about the things you study in the scriptures. So next time when God shows you something through the scriptures, pray that you may experience it in your heart.
Ellen White also hits the nail right on the head in this next quotation,
"Through nature and revelation, through His providence, and by the influence of His Spirit, God speaks to us. But these are not enough; we need also to pour out our hearts to Him. In order to have spiritual life and energy, we must have actual intercourse with our heavenly Father. Our minds may be drawn out toward Him; we may meditate upon His works, His mercies, His blessings; but this is not, in the fullest sense, communing with Him. In order to commune with God, we must have something to say to Him concerning our actual life." -Steps to Christ
Being an assistant dean, I'm in charge of twelve guys from the academy and I am comfortable saying that I know them. I know the grade they are in, the classes that they find challenging, and most often where they are. However, I couldn't really say I "know" every student as a brother (if you know what I mean). It's one thing to know facts about them and another thing to actually know them as an individual. In order for me to really know them as an individual, I'll have to call them into my room and have a good conversation in which we exchange our blessings, challenges, and goals in life. The more time I spend with them, the more I really know them. The same is with us and God. We may know about Him through scripture, providence, nature, you name it, but we don't "know" Him, his faithfulness, and His character, until we personally commune with Him through prayer. God wants to hear us speak to him as well. I'm sure you've been in a conversation in which only one person speaks, its not fun. So give it a shot, lift up your voice to the one whose ears are never to dull to hear you. For prayer turns theology into a testimony.
