“Trust in the LORD with all your heart. DO NOT DEPEND ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. In all your ways remember him. Then he will make your paths SMOOTH AND STRAIGHT.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
We live in a world today where knowledge and information about almost anything, is one “Siri” search away [Siri is a feature on the iPhone, there are many other devices that do this as well]. I grabbed my cell phone and said “Siri, what is knowledge?” and Siri said: “Knowledge is a familiarity, awareness or understanding of someone or something, such as facts, information, descriptions, or skills, which is acquired through experience or education by perceiving, discovering, or learning.”
Then I picked up my bible and said “Lord, what is knowledge?” and He said:
“The fear of the LORD is THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7) Then He went on to say: “…you will understand the fear of the LORD and FIND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth COME KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING;” (Proverbs 2:5-6)
The wise man, Solomon said: “…the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.” (Eccl. 7:12)
Now here is the problem, The Lord God Almighty said that we should: “…NOT DEPEND ON OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING.” Why? Because our enemy the devil does not want us TO HAVE THE WISDOM OF GOD, he will tempt us to follow the wrong path but remember: “…the devil…there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for HE IS A LIAR and the father of lies.” (John 8:44).
The devil knows that: “A person who isn’t spiritual doesn’t accept the teachings of God’s Spirit. HE THINKS THEY’RE NONSENSE. He can’t understand them because a person must be spiritual to evaluate them.” (1 Corin. 2:14)
That is why the Lord says for us to: “Trust in the LORD with ALL OUR 1HEART.” [(1lêb: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding) then we are blessed with this:]. “Grace and peace be OURS IN ABUNDANCE through THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1:2)
Please open our spiritual eyes Lord, so we may have knowledge of what you expect from us!
Lead us on smooth and straight paths…Bill Stockham