I will be the first to admit that there is much about the Bible I am still learning. It seems as if every moment of study brings new truth to light. And I love it. I firmly believe that there is no saturation point when it comes to Scriptural and spiritual knowledge. God will continue to increase our knowledge, understanding, and wisdom if we continue to request for Him to do so (James 1:5).
Paul, in responding to the report he received from Epaphras in Colossians 1, states, “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Colossians 1:9-12).
There are a few elements from this passage I would like to highlight. Included in the Apostle’s prayer for the church was that God would fill the saints with “knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” We see here three levels of awareness.
First, the “knowledge of His will.” The word knowledge here means recognizing and acknowledging that there is a God, and He has a will. This is very important as it establishes Biblical authority in one’s life (Hebrews 11:6). Second, “all wisdom.” For one to have “all wisdom” would indicate that through intelligent faith, he or she acts on the knowledge gained about God’s will and applies and uses it as a vessel to circumnavigate through this life. Third, “spiritual understanding.” The Greek word for understanding here is interesting; it means to “put together.” Whoever learns (puts together, connects the dots, figures out) the knowledge of God’s will can “walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work.” I have heard it spoken this way. Knowledge is knowing God’s will, wisdom is living God’s will, and spiritual understanding is realizing why you do it.
But there is more! Not only is this fully pleasing to God, but we also receive blessings as well. If we learn, live, and increase in all things spiritual, God will supply a constant source of strength, patience, longsuffering, joy. He will qualify us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” What does this mean? He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14).
There is one key element we do not need to miss “giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” What a blessing it is to know and live in God’s will, do not forget to thank Him for the privilege.
~Chris Moran