Tag: understanding
The Cloud of Glory and Fire!
Scripture reading for March 7th: Numbers 8-11, Colossians 1
Colossians 1: 9-13 “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. May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”
When you love someone, you want to please them. Pleasing the one you love requires that you get to know them. When the One you love is God, getting to know Him Who is infinite, is a daunting task and knowing how to please Him is challenging. Paul’s way to help the believers at Colossae, was to pray for them to be filled with a knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. This kind of understanding can only come by revelation through the Holy Spirit. This is the light of God’s Truth. This is the only path to pleasing God and bearing fruit in good works. God supplies the knowledge of His will and then empowers us through the Holy Spirit to grow and produce fruit. This is the fire of God’s glory in us. To God be all glory for qualifying us to share the inheritance of the saints in light!
Colossians 1:15-17 “He is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
Prayer: Father God, as Your child, I want to please You! Fill me today with a deeper knowledge of Your will and give me spiritual wisdom and understanding to bear fruit for Your glory. Strengthen me with power in my inner man so that I might have patience and endurance as I run this race of faith. In You all things were created and they all hold together. Lead me with Light and Fire!
Numbers 9:15-17 “On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped.”
The Light of Understanding!
Scripture reading for March 13th: Deuteronomy 28-31, Luke 8
Key Scriptures: Luke 8:16-18 “”No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away.””
Jesus taught His disciples in parables. With these stories, each person had to seek understanding and hear carefully because what was said had deeper meaning to those who would look and listen. Understanding was of utmost importance in this life and the life to come.
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say,’Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for revealing truth to us in our hearts and empowering us by the Holy Spirit to hear and do it. May that be so today. Amen.
Rejoicing in understanding!
Scripture reading for May 10th: Nehemiah 7-11
Key Scriptures: Nehemiah 8:10-12 “Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve.” Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.”
Nehemiah had called all God’s people together and had the Word of God read aloud to them. The people had listened attentively and God’s Word brought conviction and cleansing. A great revival was stirred. Nehemiah encouraged the people to celebrate their new-found understanding and to allow the joy of the Lord’s renewed presence to be their strength and confidence!
Rejoicing in understanding through Christ: “For I (Jesus) gave them the words You gave Me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from You and they believed that You sent Me.” . .”I am coming to You now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of My joy within them.” (John 17:8, 13)
Be attentive to the words of Jesus!
Scripture reading for February 15th: Mark 4
Key Scripture for over-comers: Mark 4:24-25 “Consider carefully what you hear,” He continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you–and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”
Jesus told His followers that listening was important. Listening is not just to hear, but to understand. When we give full attention to Jesus and want to learn, He reveals more and more of His plans and us. The measure of diligence and desire we give brings and even greater measure of reward. On the contrary, if we are careless in our listening and desire to learn, we can even lose what we have already understood. Spiritual life is not static, but must be growing through active listening and obedience to God’s instructions. We will definitely reap more than what we sow!
Observations for over-comers: Active listening is listening with the heart as well as the ears with the intent to learn and obey. “Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips.” (Proverbs 22:17-18)