Aug 6th Devotion
Forward with back to the bible
Knowledge Is Powerful
Read Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV)
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…
Reflect
What role did Paul pray wisdom and knowledge would play in the lives of the Colossians?
“When am I ever going to use this information?” If you’ve ever been to school, this thought has probably crossed your mind. Most of us acknowledge that if we aren’t going to put what we’ve learned to practical use, the pursuit of knowledge is empty. In Paul’s day and culture, acquiring knowledge was highly valued. But Paul knew that all knowledge is not created equal and that knowledge in and of itself is empty.
In today’s verse, we read that from the day Paul heard from Epaphras about the church at Colossae, he did not stop praying for them. But he didn’t pray that God would protect them from persecution. He didn’t pray that they would be blessed financially. He prayed that they would be filled with “the knowledge of His will.” He prayed for them to be filled with “spiritual wisdom and understanding.” Spiritual wisdom refers to wisdom that comes from God by the Holy Spirit.
Remember, Paul’s purposes for writing the letter to the Colossians were to refute a heresy that had crept into the church and to encourage the believers to grow towards spiritual maturity. Many false teachers were offering knowledge and wisdom. But the “secret knowledge” that the heretics were promoting was effectively useless. It didn’t have the power to change lives.
But according to Paul in today’s passage, spiritual wisdom and understanding guide us so that we are able to live lives that are pleasing to Him. The true knowledge of God informs us of how to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” and because this knowledge is from the Spirit, our Helper, it enables us to fully please Him.
Are you ready for even more good news? Not only does the knowledge of God have the power to change your life, this knowledge is not exclusive. It is available to you for free. And unlike a college education, you don’t have to go into debt pursuing it either. But you do have to seek it. Thankfully, God has told us where to look—the Bible.
Friends, God has revealed Himself to us through His Word. We can know Him personally! We have access to practical, not merely theoretical, wisdom that shows us how to live godly lives for His glory. But we are never done learning. We can spend our whole lives learning about Him and never know everything there is to know about God. So, seek spiritual wisdom and pursue the knowledge of God. Digging into His Word is like an endless treasure hunt that is guaranteed to be a success. “...you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29). And what you find will change your life.
Knowledge Is Powerful
Read Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV)
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…
Reflect
What role did Paul pray wisdom and knowledge would play in the lives of the Colossians?
“When am I ever going to use this information?” If you’ve ever been to school, this thought has probably crossed your mind. Most of us acknowledge that if we aren’t going to put what we’ve learned to practical use, the pursuit of knowledge is empty. In Paul’s day and culture, acquiring knowledge was highly valued. But Paul knew that all knowledge is not created equal and that knowledge in and of itself is empty.
In today’s verse, we read that from the day Paul heard from Epaphras about the church at Colossae, he did not stop praying for them. But he didn’t pray that God would protect them from persecution. He didn’t pray that they would be blessed financially. He prayed that they would be filled with “the knowledge of His will.” He prayed for them to be filled with “spiritual wisdom and understanding.” Spiritual wisdom refers to wisdom that comes from God by the Holy Spirit.
Remember, Paul’s purposes for writing the letter to the Colossians were to refute a heresy that had crept into the church and to encourage the believers to grow towards spiritual maturity. Many false teachers were offering knowledge and wisdom. But the “secret knowledge” that the heretics were promoting was effectively useless. It didn’t have the power to change lives.
But according to Paul in today’s passage, spiritual wisdom and understanding guide us so that we are able to live lives that are pleasing to Him. The true knowledge of God informs us of how to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” and because this knowledge is from the Spirit, our Helper, it enables us to fully please Him.
Are you ready for even more good news? Not only does the knowledge of God have the power to change your life, this knowledge is not exclusive. It is available to you for free. And unlike a college education, you don’t have to go into debt pursuing it either. But you do have to seek it. Thankfully, God has told us where to look—the Bible.
Friends, God has revealed Himself to us through His Word. We can know Him personally! We have access to practical, not merely theoretical, wisdom that shows us how to live godly lives for His glory. But we are never done learning. We can spend our whole lives learning about Him and never know everything there is to know about God. So, seek spiritual wisdom and pursue the knowledge of God. Digging into His Word is like an endless treasure hunt that is guaranteed to be a success. “...you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29). And what you find will change your life.
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