“But when the fulness of the time was come” (Galatians 4:4 KJV). It is no surprise to us that we do not know everything. For that reason, we do not have the ability to understand anything but the truth we have come to understand at this moment. “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it” (1Corinthians 3:2). Our stewardship is to the truth God places before us today, for we do not know what God plans for tomorrow. “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). Since we have been given our present body of understanding, we are responsible to attempt to share it with others. “Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old” (Matthew 13:52). And, whether they receive it or not, is the responsibility of the Spirit of God, who “will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). Father, bless Your people with a peace that passes understanding concerning our role in handling the truth given to us. Cause us to be as You are, a blessing to those we meet. And, if they cannot be blessed, may they know that a prophet has been among them. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Jesus’ precious name, we ask it. Amen.
Knowledge of God
Knowledge of God
“9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9-10 KJV).
In the KJV, the expression “knowledge of God” occurs three in the OT and five times in the NT. Paul’s incessant prayer for the Colossians (1:9) is not that they would increase their giving to support the worthy ministry of the Church. Neither was he asking for their evangelistic success in numerically growing the population of disciples in obedience to the Great Commission. But, his petition to God was foremost that the Colossians would “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (1:9) so that they would “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing” (1:10). He lists “being fruitful in every good work” (1:10) alongside “increasing in the knowledge of God” (1:10).
The reason converts fall away, superficially grow, do not change their conduct appreciably from their former life, do not produce more disciples, or change the Church for better, is they have not been “filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (1:10). How can we tell that they have not been “filled with the knowledge of His will” (1:9)? They are not “fruitful in every good work” (1:10), neither are they “increasing in the knowledge of God” (1:10).
In the rushed existence of our workaday world, reading this demands more time than most can afford. But, those who can read this both have the benefit of “increasing in the knowledge of God” (1:10), which God deems to be of great value, and your light will shine for others from whom you will not be able to shield from your understanding. Be gentle.
Father, increase our understanding of You for Your benefit and ours. May our understanding of Your will cause great blessing for You, ourselves, and those around us. Increase Your kingdom. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Jesus’ name, amen.
It’s All About Relationship
Who He is to us, and who we are to Him. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (2Peter 3:18 KJV). Many years ago, I would have agreed with the word Relationship, but only superficially. I would have actually meant, “Get them saved, ” then repeat the process with the next one. But, they come in through the front door and leave through the back door. We try to solve the problem by social engagement, church member interacting with church member, with the understanding, “They won’t leave, if they have friends.” But, then they leave with their friends. Perhaps we need to be asking one another, “What is the LORD trying to teach us about Himself?” How has our understanding of His Word’s application to ourselves changed our understanding of Him? Paul seems to have captured that understanding. “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death” (Philippians 3:10). Father, stir us out of our lethargy. Cause us not to be satisfied with the way things are. Enable us to see You as our all in all to meet all the difficulties of life that You use to motivate us. May our cries for help fall upon Your hearing ears. May our hearts not be satisfied with mere answers for our deliverance, but may we see Your glory. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
In Search of Meekness
Meekness is a needy receptivity to God, being very open to receive from Yahweh. “Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger” (Zephaniah 2:3 KJV). Not so strangely, the fiery giver of the Law, “Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). Driving the moneychangers out of the Temple, Jesus previously said, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29). Meekness is most commonly viewed by the world as humbly patient, quiet in nature, overly submissive, or compliant. Bible study aids will do better, pointing out the meek are not proud, haughty, supercilious, self-assertive, low in rank or position, but favored by God. But, why does God take especial pleasure in the meek? Jesus already said it. When we take His yoke upon us (Matthew 11:29), like two oxen joined for labor, we will “learn” (11:29) of Him, as we come into step with Him, we become like Him, for He is meek.
If meekness is a needy receptivity to God, being very open to receive from Yahweh, then all, who would enter the Kingdom of God, must be meek. “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Notice how often the concept of God’s judgment is discussed around the words “meekness” or “meek” (KJV). Instead of meekness, modern translations most often use the word “humble.” For the world, meekness means weakness, but not with God. “When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah” (Psalm 76:9). “But with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked” (Isaiah 11:4).
(The following is a slightly longer read. Scan ahead to preview.)
Meekness biblically approximates the concept of willingness, as in, willingness to do the will of God is to be a Christian. Meekness has the advantage of being the Almighty’s choice, which comes with numerous promises. What won’t God do for the meek? (1) God gives the meek satisfaction that the world can’t get, i.e., “The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek Him: your heart shall live for ever” (Psalm 22:26). (2) God grants the meek guidance and teaching about His way and how to make correct decisions, i.e., “The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way” (Psalm 25:9). (3) Dominion over the earth in peace is granted to the meek, i.e., “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace” (Psalm 37:11; Matthew 5:5). (4) Lifting up the meek, while casting down the wicked, is promised by the LORD, i.e., “The LORD lifteth up the meek: He casteth the wicked down to the ground” (Psalm 147:6). (5) Salvation is granted to the meek, because they please Him, i.e., “For the LORD taketh pleasure in His people: He will beautify the meek with salvation” (Psalm 149:4). (6) Joy and rejoicing belong to the meek, for who wouldn’t rejoice with all of God’s promises? “The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 29:19). (7) Good tidings, binding up, liberty, and release are appointed for the meek, i.e., “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me; because the LORD hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound” (Isaiah 61:1).
NT meekness is also a needy receptivity to God, being very open to receive from Christ. What does Christ expect of the meek? (1) Jesus meekly has presented Himself as Messiah the King to the meek, i.e., “Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass” (Matthew 21:5). (2) Christ values highly the gentle and quiet spirit of a meek wife, i.e., “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1Peter 3:4). (3) Christ expects us to restore fallen brothers and sisters meekly, i.e., “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). (4) Christ expects us to meekly instruct others to gain their repentance, i.e., “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2Timothy 2:25). (5) Christ expects us to speak gently, meekly to everyone, not seeking confrontation, i.e., “To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men” (Titus 3:2). (6) Christ expects a meekness of wisdom from our lifestyle, i.e., “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew [shō] out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13). (7) Christ expects us to meekly answer anyone why we hope in Christ. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1Peter 3:15).
Father, grant to us a meek and quiet spirit, and may we learn to value meekness as highly as You do. Cause Your Spirit to work in us the fruit of meekness. Multiply it within us, stay not Your hand. Increase our understanding of meekness. May Your people abound in meekness so the “earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen and amen.
Christ In You
“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27 KJV). What can be more balanced and sound of doctrine and practice than “in all things [Christ] might have the preeminence” (1:18)? ‘Fundamentalists’ stress soundness of doctrine about Christ. Getting people saved would be their primary goal. By comparison, the ‘other evangelicals’ stress developing a relationship with Christ. Discipling converts would be their emphasis. Both are essential. Christianity is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (1:27) with soundness of doctrine about Christ’s saving and continually sanctifying grace. The Pharisees did get right the need for obedience to God’s law, but they strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel because they forgot Yahweh wanted a people, who knew Him. “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). Automatons who obeyed without heart were not desirable. “And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). May our God receive for Himself a people walking in loving obedience with an ever increasing understanding of Him. Amen.
Voice of God: Not in the Thoughts of the Wicked
“The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts” (Psalm 10:4 KJV). Surely the Psalmist speaks only metaphorically, or is he? If God must be in all our thoughts, then everyone must be ungodly. No. We must be underestimating how God inhabits the thoughts of the godly. “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2Corinthians 10:5 KJV). Let us treat every thought as if we were listening to God, then we would not be as the wicked. Amen?
Can We Do Better?
We can absolutely do better, or we cannot grow. “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10 KJV). Until we stand in the presence of our Lord, we will be constrained by the limitations of our earthly circumstances. We will ache, become weary, mishear, misunderstand, and even miss our intended target. We certainly need a supernatural, good shepherd. LORD, lead us in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake. Amen and amen.
Not All Have Faith
“And that we may be delivered from perverse and evil people. For not all have faith” (2Thessalonians 3:2 NET). God knows not all have faith. Screenwriters need a villain to provide drama for the plot’s deliverance of its hero or heroine. God does not need to recruit sinners to provide drama for the stage of life. Already “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23). But, sin is not like gravity, since not everyone has to sin. From the beginning, God has been positioning His resources and all the players in this vast drama of life for the conclusion. “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11 KJV). Let us not be like Lucifer, who allowed his self-love to overpower his love for Yahweh. Let us not even blame the Devil, our environment, or our upbringing for why-we-are-the-way-we-are. Instead, “since the day we heard it, [we] do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9-10 KJV). It may not always feel like it, but the Almighty wins the final victory!
Why Doesn’t Everyone Finish?
Why doesn’t everyone finish their Pilgrim’s Progress journey to the Celestial City? “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14 KJV). A common saying in the world, ‘If it were easy, everyone would do it,’ makes a lot of practical sense. How does anyone know they are His chosen few? Peter answers that question. “2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity [Greek, agapē, love]. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2Peter 1:2-10 KJV). Maranatha!
We Need A Miracle 