Having the right belief is no guarantee that you will have the right conclusion.  Consider the Jewish scribes of Jesus’ day, they were the acknowledged experts of the religious law. The scribes and the Pharisees were considered the authorities on interpreting and applying the Scriptures.  When Jesus saw the faith of the paralytic and his friends He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5); this statement did not fit into their theological framework.  Their response is recorded in Mark 2:7, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Let’s examine their statement.  First they asked a question, “Why does this man speak that way?”  As we go through life we’re going to have questions about God and that’s understandable.  The Lord Himself declared, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways” (Isaiah 55:8).  Don’t be afraid to ask the questions – God can handle your questions.

Notice also that the scribes had the right belief, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?”  They knew the Scriptures, they were correct in their theology.  Their concept of God however did not include Jesus and His ministry – their theology was right but their conclusion was wrong.  We must be careful that we don’t think that we have God and His ways figured out.  The scribes were knowledgeable but they lacked humility.  Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies” (1 Corinthians 8:1). 

How about your beliefs and conclusions?  Are there areas in your life where you’ve put God in a box to fit your theology?  It requires humility on our part to realize that we don’t have all the answers – God is too big for us to figure out!  Study the Scriptures to ensure you have the right beliefs and then in humility be cautious in your conclusions realizing that our God is the God of the impossible and the unexpected, “Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it?  I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:19).