Where the knowledge of God comes from . . .

 

In evangelical churches, three emphases prevail. Some denominations focus on decisions, stressing the human will. Others focus on emotions and stress expressing their faith in vibrant worship. The third is on knowledge, the intellect and stressing studying the Word of God. All three are important but putting too much on any of them can diminish the value of the other two.

The NT encourages balance. Today’s passage includes all three in one long sentence:

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Colossians 1:9–12)

If I stress human will, I am apt to replace the sovereignty of God and His power with human decisions and express my salvation as ‘I decided to follow Jesus’ whereas Jesus plainly says I did not choose Him but He chose me. (John 15:16) This does not negate my cooperation, but it does affect my humility.

If I stress emotions and let them govern worship and serving God, there will be many days where I don’t feel like it, and unlike Jesus, I will have trouble submitting to His will when I am sweating blood.

If I stress knowledge, the Bible reminds me that we all possess knowledge (defined as “the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning; sometimes simply endowed by God (often with focus on application of the knowledge)” but this “knowledge” puffs up and can make me proud. Instead, I’m to love others (1 Corinthians 8:1-2) and God’s love is focused on others, not on my determination, raising my hands when I sing, or how many verses I’ve memorized.

It is true that as my knowledge of God’s Word increases, the Holy Spirit renews my mind and transforms my thinking. Also, as I gaze into the glory of the Lord as revealed in Scripture, I am “being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). However, the NT Christians did not have the NT to read and study! Their understanding of God came from the OT and the Holy Spirit who was able to open their eyes to the Person and nature of God.

There are many who study the Bible and do not know Christ at all. I read it for many years before Jesus came into my life and gave me a new life and an awakened understanding. This does not mean we toss the Bible, but it does mean that even daily reading does not guarantee a fruitful life. That fruitfulness is not so much about knowledge of truth as it is about the power of God to use His people. Fruitfulness comes from Him. It shows up in new believers who have just begun to open the Bible and can be missing in doctors of theology.

Growing in grace and the knowledge of God is vital. It is also vital to realizing where that grace and knowledge comes from because that keeps me from becoming puffed up and thinking I’m a great student of the Word or that I know more than those who are new to the faith or don’t read their Bible very much. The Lord is their Savior too and it is up to Him to teach them.

This week I talked to a prodigal who has come home. His knowledge of biblical truth and the way He now lives is startling considering he has not read the Bible for many years. This tells me of God’s power and fills me with worship. Again, not an excuse to toss the Bible, but to realize where our understanding comes from. Our hearts need the encouragement and clarity of Scripture so we can be loving to others, and “reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2–3) He is all we need!

Getting to know Jesus involves spending time with Him, listening to what He says, not blocking my ears with unconfessed sin. Also, doing what He says is one of the best ways of finding out that He knows what He is talking about!

Jesus, in You “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” but faith and obedience remove the ‘hidden’ part so I can see You more clearly and walk in Your wisdom. You produce the fruit, and for that I give You glory. And I do agree that comparing Ephesians 5:18-19 with Colossians 3:16, shows how being filled with the Spirit is related to letting the Word of God dwell in me richly . . . and realize that if I put my study ahead of Him, pride can creep in and ruin it.

MORE: Read Psalm 119 and notice all that God’s Word means to the psalm writer.

 

Seeking the mind of God . . .

 

READ Psalm 66–70

One thing about reading the psalms: I realize the power of praise — and the importance of listening to my mother! When my focus is on the Lord and the wonder of His person and His actions, the evil and foolishness in this world have much less effect on me, except to bring them to Him in prayer. Praise makes Him the answer for everything. Self-effort is folly, puny, compared to what God can do, even though obedience is vital. Praise helps me see that we who trust Him are His hands and heart, even when plagued by discomfort in our situation.

For instance, how can those who oppose God and reject the Gospel, those who deny sin and their need for salvation, be brought to their knees before the One who calls out to them? I can’t make that happen, or can I?

Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah (Psalm 66:1–4)

Praise and our shouts for joy at God’s power brings His enemies cringing to Him! So what does complaining and lack of trust do!

Yet it isn’t God’s power in their lives that produces this response, but His power in our lives. So often trouble comes and God’s people do everything we can think of to turn away that which makes us suffer or uncomfortable. This is not God’s way. My mother often said, “We must need it or we wouldn’t be getting it” — teaching me to look for the reasons our sovereign God allows negative or uncomfortable things. In doing that, God has taught me so much about Himself. The psalmist knew too . . .

For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance . . . . Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me! (66:10–12; 16–20)

Some things are a test; will I trust God even though He has allowed sickness, accidents, reversals of fortune, or any other undesirables in my life? Some things are Satan’s ploys to stop me from trusting God, from prayer, from praising Him. Will I continue to obey God even in trials? Some things are designed by the enemy to stop me from confessing sin, even to loving sin or even to not realize how sinful are my self-efforts and doing my own thing. If I cherish that, then my prayers are futile. But God blesses that attitude of “what are You trying to tell me with this unwanted mess that is happening to me?” He shows me what is happening in that unseen realm that has affected the realm I can see.

The psalm writers could say, “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations . . . . God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!” (67:1–2; 7) They knew that His saving power was the conclusion of whatever He allowed, and that His actions to rescue us are powerful to bring the world to its knees. Our part is to openly confess both our distress at the time it happens and the salvation that comes because of His loving faithfulness. “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation.” Selah (68:19)

Not everyone will be delighted. Some think my mother’s words are odd, even foolish. They look at me as if I have lost my mind. I’m okay with that. Jesus experienced much worse than I do, yet He said: “For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.” (69:9) His great love bears whatever rejections I might experience.

Lord, my prayers today include, “May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” (70:4) It is in praising You that I can accept Your wisdom and eventually know why some things happen and how You can used all things, even negative, uncomfortable things, for good instead of thinking the only answer is that You will make them go away.