December 29 – Essential Understanding

“Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” – Hosea 14:9 (ESV)

For those who need a promise from God that will help them in their daily here’s one found in the book of Hosea. He was the last to prophesy before Israel’s northern kingdom fell to Assyria. In the last verse in the book we find a promise. Like other promises it has consequences or blessings. Many of the promises God gives us in the Bible are instructions regarding how we respond to the wisdom. Hosea cautions us with the this thought, the wise can understand and the discerning can know that whatever the Lord does is right. When we learn from reading or preaching what the Lord wants and promises us, we can know it is right for God does not instruct us to do what is wrong, He cannot. So the conclusion is this: faith believers are upright in their belief and so they guide their lives by God’s instructions. However not all peoples are upright and obedient. Some go their own way plotting their own course and the result is a life of stumbling over the will of God. Why? Because in their refusal and rebellion they fail to understand God’s promises and fail to be discerning.  

 

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October 6 – Essential Understanding

“The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.” -  Psalm 14:2 (ESV)

 Among the essentials we need to progress as Christians in our life here on earth is the essential ability of understanding. Understanding is spoken about frequently in the Bible. Understanding does not come naturally but through a process of learning. Our promise in today’s verse affirms the Lord’s inspection of our thoughts and deeds. The words translated “looks down” in the original Hebrew text include a verb that actually says “bent over” to look. In a very real sense all the children of men are made to pass in review before Him. Because God is omniscient, he knows everything about his creatures including those who believe and those who don’t believe God’s words. We cannot escape his will by redefining words and instructions in the Bible and make those difficult to accept more satisfactory to us in our day. Customs change what is accepted or rejected as good and evil. None of these changes cause the meaning of God’s Word to change. What was an abomination to God 4000 years ago still today what God hates. God is always looking to see if there are those among his creatures who are discerning and seek after Him.

 

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May 15 – Help to Understand

“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” 1 Corinthians 2:12  (ESV)

Some may consider the words “we have received…” to refer to the apostles and other writers of the Word of God. That is so but not exclusively. The is the promise made first to the disciples which would enable them exclusively to write the inspired words of God. But also to help all who believe and receive to understand the written inspired word of God.   We know that when a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior, the Lord sends His Holy Spirit to live in that person. We also know that the Holy Spirit brings much into our lives. One of His functions is mentioned today in our selected verse. God knows that we are naturally very earthly minded. On our own we do not understand God very well. Nor do we understand the wonderful advantages of being children of God. We don't know the wonderful benefits God has provided for us. That's one of the reasons why we need divine help in knowing what is available to us as we trust. Let's be sure that our hearts and minds are open to what the Holy Spirit wants to teach us about this every day. 

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September 13 – Knowing The Whole

“He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”  Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” – John 13:6-7 (ESV)

On a very important night Jesus is with His disciples observing the Passover meal as was the practice of following their Jewish Law. This was indeed the last supper and not only for Jesus but for the disciples. What was about to happen, Jesus’ death and resurrection would fulfill  the requirements of the Law for the sake of righteousness. Jesus was willing to be the perfect and final blood sacrifice for sin. Foot washing was a normal act of hospitality, and the disciples thought Jesus was doing that. But Jesus was symbolizing what was about to happen for all who believe in Him. Peter, failed to see beyond the humble act itself to the symbol of necessary spiritual cleansing. Jesus responded with this promise: unless the Lamb of God washes away a person’s sin they will have no share with Him. It was for this reason that Jesus, who saw the whole, said to Peter, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Two verbs are translated as ‘understand.’ The first one is knowledge by intuition or by reflection, the second is knowledge by observation and experience. Do we understand how we should?

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September 18 – Truly Opened Minds

“Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” Luke 24:45 (NIV)

We have considered this verse before – especially during the days after our Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.  The joys of His resurrection are available for us to consider anytime and not only during Easter time.  What Jesus did for the disciples in this passage, He can do for us every day.  Even though Jesus had taught them much during His time with them before his death, they were not fully comprehending what had happened.  We too might find times when we are not comprehending lessons from God's Word even though we may have studied it and heard it preached many times.  What Jesus did for these two, He is doing for us today.  He promises to open our minds so that we can understand the Scriptures.  Without His work of opening our minds, we will not be able to comprehend what the Bible is teaching us. We need Him to help us understand. 

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May 15 – Help to Understand

“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” 1 Corinthians 2:12  (ESV)

We know that when a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior, the Lord sends His Holy Spirit to live in that person. We also know that the Holy Spirit brings much into our lives. One of His functions is mentioned today in our selected verse. God knows that we are naturally very earthly minded. On our own we do not understand God very well. Nor do we understand the wonderful advantages of being children of God. We don't know the wonderful benefits God has provided for us. That's one of the reasons why we need divine help in knowing what is available to us as we trust. Let's be sure that our hearts and minds are open to what the Holy Spirit wants to teach us about this every day. 

September 18 – Freely Given

“What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.” 1 Corinthians 2:12 (NIV)

Our God knows what our needs are and He is very eager that we know how much He cares. Our verse today makes that clear. We trust that all who read this daily blog remember that when a person believes in Jesus as Savior, at that very time, the Holy Spirit comes to live within that person. Our verse today reminds us what His purpose is within us. He has come to help us understand what God has freely given us. Yes, that is His ministry in each of our lives. He is here to help us realize how much God has given us and how much He wants to continue to give us.  Let's listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit each day and let's open our hearts to receive what He offers us. 

January 12

“What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.” 1 Corinthians 2:12 (NIV)

God has provided many blessings for those who accept His Son as Savior. It is true that as we read the Bible or hear someone teach it we learn about some of these blessings. Let us remember that those who wrote the Bible were inspired to write about these blessings. It is God the Holy Spirit who helps us understand what we read in these writings. The Holy Spirit can also help us in other ways to what God has planned for each one of us. Let us be sure our hearts are open to learn what the Spirit wants to teach us each day. Remember all those who have believed have received the Spirit who is from God and is God.