Ignorance

Philippians 3:3-14 

I grew up with 3 brothers, the youngest was 10 years behind me. So my real life experience was with two older brothers. One of them was one of the most gifted guitarist in the land and was known by everyone in high school. The other was part of a high school gang that was known for drinking and fighting. For quite a few years I lived off the reputation of my brothers. All my friends would come asking me questions about music equipment and I would give them advice, even though I didn't know what I was talking about. They just assumed because my brother knew everything and played so well that I also would know. Because of my other brother, a lot of the older boys that normally would've smacked me because of my smart mouth did not, partly because they did not know if I was as tough as my brother…I was not, or they did not want my brother’s wrath down on them.

I was living off of something that was not mine. When it comes to this kind of nonsense, at best, it will turn out to be embarrassing when people find out that “you're not all that”. However, in other matters, like the one we will now discuss, the end will be...

Probing Proverbs 8:10-11 Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.

This is quite a provocative statement when you think about it. I realize that most of us, if we read this in front of others, outwardly we would agree and say “Amen!” That's because it seems like the right thing to say and if I may, the “Christian” thing to say. But how many of us in our heart do not view advice concerning knowledge as more valuable than wealth? In fact, the very last claim is the most provocative. “Nothing you desire can compare with it”. Nothing… NOTHING? That really...

The Fodder:  Leviticus 8-10

The Thought:  Nadab and Abihu: two brothers who represent the perfect mixture of ignorance and pride.  You may not agree with that summation, but before you get about the rest of your day, look at the first word the jumps out of this collection of letters: ignorance.  Do you immediately see the word IGNOR (ignore)?  I hope so because that’s exactly what Nadab and Abihu did - they pridefully ignored the holiness of God and did so with full knowledge.  They paid the ultimate price.

Scripture Read: 1 Timothy 1:12-13 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, ¹³even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;    

Application: Is Paul making excuses for his behavior? He was ignorant, so did it not count? Many people claim they did not know what they were doing so we do not hold them accountable. Is this what Paul means? From scripture we find a very firm no! Ignorance is not the excuse for sin. In the first place most ignorance is willful. We choose not to take the time to find out the truth, either because...