Standing on Shoulders Standing on the Word
Hebrews 13:7 bibrefhebrews13 bibrefhebrews13v7 says, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”
Nehemiah 12 bibrefnehemiah12 illustrates this. They had come to the day of dedication of the city wall, and the first part of the chapter lists a couple generations of men who had led the worship of the people since the first days of their return from Babylon. They had walls to stand on because they had shoulders to stand on.
Also related, we stand on the shoulders of those who have spoken to us the word of God. We have learned from men, many of whom have finished their earthly race, to let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly.
I have been greatly blessed by God’s use of John MacArthur in my life, especially in the example of his radical and relentless reading/preaching of God’s Word. He chose:
- God’s Word over personal feelings (Subjectivism).
- God’s Word over Popes and Councils (Catholicism).
- God’s Word over religious traditions (RC, EO).
- God’s Word over theological systems (put over the Bible rather than read from it, such as Supersessionism).
- God’s Word over supposed-Spirit-leading (that even contradicts Scripture, such as Charismaticism).
- God’s Word over human wisdom (Philosophy and Psychology).
- God’s Word over church marketing (Pragmatism).
I’d love to have seen him also recognize the Word over pietism/dualism, but what can’t you learn when you keep attending to the Word? It will equip for every good work. Beloved, long for the milk and meat of the Word that you may grow up in salvation. It is an imperishable seed, the living and abiding Word of God.