Subject Matter Expert

Subject Matter Expert

John 9: ²⁶ Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”

²⁷ He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”

²⁸ Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. ²⁹ We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”

³⁰ The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! ³¹ Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. ³² Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. ³³ If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”

³⁴ They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out.

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Being deemed the subject matter expert was a hidden honor to me. I mean whenever someone had questions, they would come to me for the answers. I felt needed and wanted. One day, someone came up to me with a question that I could not answer. How dare they! “Why were they trying to trip me up?” I thought.

• There were times when I thought I could “know it all.”
• There were times when I believed I could be the one who had all the answers.
• There were times when I felt so great about being the subject matter expert that I would defend my title.

The church leaders kept interrogating the man healed of his blindness by JESUS. They repeated their questions, not seeking the truth but to see if they could catch the man in a lie. The man had enough and asked them, “How could HE heal me, the way HE healed me, if HE were not from GOD? This question stumped them so they threw him out of the community.

• GOD wants me to know he raises other people for HIS purpose.
• GOD wants me to accept that I am not the only one who follows HIM.
• GOD wants me to place HIM as the only one who is superior.

Superiority is a fatal flaw that GOD wants to get rid of. Bragging and boasting about being an “expert” in knowing GOD or HIS word can be a weakness. The Pharisees could not see GOD when HE arrived because of their blindness to their lust for power. They were supposed to be the experts.

JESUS wants me to be able to hear HIM speak even through the youngest child. HIS truth is true from the rich and learned as well as the poor and unlearned. HE can and will use unlikely people to spread HIS word. I am glad HE gives me grace to hear HIM.

• Do you consider yourself a subject matter expert?
• Do you give GOD any credit for what you know?
• Will you allow GOD to open your ears to hear from people who may not be an expert?

Missing the Purpose

Luke 20: ⁴¹ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? ⁴² David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:

‘“The Lord said to my Lord:
    ‘Sit at my right hand
⁴³ until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.’”

⁴⁴ David calls him “Lord.” How then can he be his son?’

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Plastic handle with groves wrapped around hardened steel that protruded into a beveled point was a brilliant design for the screwdriver I owned. I clinched it in my hand and took a strong swing. The handle broke immediately as I hit the nail. All hope was lost as I was still in need of a hammer but did not have one.

• Sometimes I try to use what I have for the wrong purpose.
• Sometimes I miss the purpose of what things are for.
• Sometimes I do not understand the consequences of missing the purpose.

JESUS spoke to the Sadducees about a passage they knew, but glossed over. HE asked them a question about the Psalm David wrote. “How could the LORD, who exists forever, be called the ‘son’ of David?” HE asks them. They missed the purpose .

• GOD says to me “I AM the one who is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.”
• GOD says to me “I became a human and died for you and was raised from the dead; so your belief in ME will be save you.”
• GOD says to me “I came to humans with a purpose, to show everyone MY love for them.”

Missing GOD’s purpose for situations is easy to do. I mean I question why HE has me go through painful situations all the time. Then I try to “fix” the situation without having the right tools to do so.

Only when I relent to GOD’s grace and power, does the situation correct itself. I drop my immediate timeframe and allow GOD to show me HE is in control. GOD made me and HE made the world. HE knows what HE is doing and I am grateful.

• Are you missing GOD’s purpose for you?
• Do you think you have the tools to “fix” you or other people?
• Will you ask GOD to guide you and those you are praying for?

Admiration

Luke 18: ¹⁵ People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. ¹⁶ But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷ Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’

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When I finally found a good leader, I believed almost every word they said. I would schedule as much time as I could just to sit and listen to their words. Whatever they told me, I would do. I trusted that person implicitly.

• Many people have earned my trust.
• Many people have lowered my skepticism.
• Many people have said things that I instantly believe in.

JESUS stopped HIS disciples from forbidding children to approach HIM. I wonder if they thought JESUS was to politically important to deal with childish matters. HE summoned the children over and told the disciples to believe as a child believes.

• GOD wants me to mature to the point where I implicitly believe in HIM.
• GOD wants me to grow to the point where I have instant faith in HIM.
• GOD wants me to increase my value of HIS words in my heart versus constantly proving HIM to be wrong by thinking HE is not meeting “my” expectations.

Admiring GOD in all that HE does is a lifelong journey. It means I have to drop my skepticism, doubt and know it all thinking. I should believe in the promises HE says instead of wavering. But sometimes I stammer. I am glad GOD said “MY grace is sufficient” for I truly need HIS grace. I do believe in HIM today, implicitly.

• Are you skeptical of GOD because HE has not answered your prayer at the exact moment and the exact way?
• Are you losing your trust in GOD?
• Can you return to your childlike belief and admire GOD again?

Knowing it All

Proverbs 13: ¹³ Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,
    but whoever respects a command is rewarded.

¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
    turning a person from the snares of death.

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Whenever someone came to me with a question, I had an answer. It felt good knowing all there was to know about my department. In fact, I knew it all about everything. But one day, GOD changed my circumstances and I found out just how much I knew. For the first time in a long time I had to swallow my pride and go out and ask questions. It seemed like the simplest tasks were hard and I struggled.

• My pride makes me not hear.
• My desire to be on top makes me blind to instruction.
• My “know it all” attitude makes me scorn instruction.

Giving instruction is easy, but grasping instruction is usually harder when I want to be the “answer person.” It feels great to be the go to person and not so great being the person who is in need. BUT GOD says different.

• GOD says to me, “I will bless you for seeking.”
• GOD says to me, “Ask and you will be given.”
• GOD says to me, “I will give you the right words at the right time.”

I no longer have to be the answer person. GOD is the one who provides me with instruction. HE sends the right people to me at the right time where I can find many answers. This keeps me from thinking I am on my own. As long as I have ears to hear, I can get instructions that will help me grow.

• Are you avoiding instruction?
• Do you think you know it all?
• Can you ask GOD to send people to you that you can hear from?
• Will you drop your guards in order to hear sound instructions GOD has for you?

Relying On My Wisdom

Job 28: ¹² But where can wisdom be found?
    Where does understanding dwell?
¹³ No mortal comprehends its worth;
    it cannot be found in the land of the living.
¹⁴ The deep says, “It is not in me”;
    the sea says, “It is not with me.”
¹⁵ It cannot be bought with the finest gold,
    nor can its price be weighed out in silver.

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²³ God understands the way to it
    and he alone knows where it dwells,
²⁴ for he views the ends of the earth
    and sees everything under the heavens.
²⁵ When he established the force of the wind
    and measured out the waters,
²⁶ when he made a decree for the rain
    and a path for the thunderstorm,
²⁷ then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
    he confirmed it and tested it.
²⁸ And he said to the human race,
    “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
    and to shun evil is understanding.”

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I was the smartest, bravest person I knew. I mean I had just received my first promotion and I was now only twenty two levels beneath the CEO. I was confident in my world and no one could tell me otherwise.

• Sometimes I think more highly of myself.
• GOD wants me to value HIS power.

• Sometimes I think it’s my wisdom that got me where I am.
• GOD wants me to know it is only HIM who raises people up.

• Sometimes I think I can make it on my own.
• GOD wants me to rely on HIM and turn things over to HIM and let HIM do a marvelous work.

Seeking wisdom means seeking the fear of the LORD. I don’t mean to view GOD as a sadistic moniker rather I should place HIS values higher than my ambitions, relationships or status. GOD understands the way to wisdom. I will follow HIM to HIS fruit.