OUR UNDERSTANDING - PART 4
THURSDAY 31 AUGUST 2023
There is a true God in heaven. He has His way of doing things. And here is the timeless truth: There is no day in our lives in which we do not need to observe His precepts, as born again Christians. For instance, Joshua 1:8 reads, "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success" (NKJV). In line with this Scripture, I believe you noticed the prescribed frequency of such meditation - "day and night." In another way, the demand or instruction specified is at least twice a day.
Reference: Psalm 119:32 New International Version (NIV) "I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding."
God's commands are His guiding principles. They are full of grace, favour, strength, help, counsel, direction and support, and they empower us to handle all the issues of life, including our various duties and challenges of life. And we are called to follow them with careful diligence. To that effect, Psalm 119:4 says, "You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently" (NKJV). The message Translation reads, "You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it." However we need to understand them in an accurate manner, in order to apply them effectively. That's the reason our spiritual understanding is bigly essential.
In Colossians 1:9, Paul says, "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives" (NIV). Beloved, how profitable is the propriety and necessity of praying without ceasing - for spiritual wisdom and understanding. Paul prayed this prayer (non-stop) on behalf of the Colossian Christians. Now watch this: He asked that they might be filled and equipped with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom (which implies - insight into His purposes) and in understanding of spiritual things.
Being filled and equipped with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom is the same as being empowered to run in the path of God's commands and purposes. Apostle Paul also prayed for their understanding of spiritual things. Simply put, he continually asked God to fill them with the knowledge of His will through all the "COMMANDS" and "UNDERSTANDING" that the Spirit gives. Got it? His grammatical expression is no different from implication or indication sourced from our referenced Scripture, which says: "I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding."
It is utterly impossible for us to function in the path of God's commands and purpose, without the spiritual wisdom and understanding the Holy Spirit grants us. That's the reason we can't live an effective Christian life without Him. When properly clothed with spiritual understanding, His commands will graciously rule in our hearts as we continually equip ourselves with the accurate knowledge of His will. That way, we walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of His Word. Shalom!
Scripture Reading - John 14:15; 1 John 5:3; John 15:14; James 1:25; 2 John 1:6; Revelation 14:12.
Guided Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you for empowering me with the knowledge of your will to remain strong in Christ, as I constantly cogitate on the Word with ardent alacrity - all the days of my life. Through the help and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, I learn and practise the fear of the Lord by carefully observing all the wordings of your instruction in accordance with your decrees and statutes, in Jesus' Name, Amen!
