“Grow
in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ ... Be diligent (study) to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed,
rightly dividing (interpreting) the word of truth.”
These
two commands of scripture are essential to our spiritual maturation into
overcoming saints, light-bearers to a world lost in darkness. We grow in
knowledge of our Lord through diligent study of God’s “word of truth.” The
Amplified Bible translation adds clarity to these two verses:
“Grow in
grace (undeserved favor,
spiritual strength) and recognition and
knowledge and understanding of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah) … Study and be eager and
do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be
ashamed, correctly analyzing and
accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of
Truth.”
Proverbs
9:10 explains the relationship between wisdom, knowledge and understanding: “The
fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One (the Lord) is understanding.
Knowledge is facts and information. Understanding is to take in, grasp,
assimilate and comprehend the facts and information. Wisdom is the application
of understanding to produce good judgment – God’s judgment – in all matters of
life: In our thoughts, words, and actions. Knowledge of God produces
understanding of God which in turn produces wisdom of God. This is why studying
“The word of Truth” is so essential and requires diligence.
Saint’s,
we need to take this command to “grow in the knowledge of our Lord” to heart
and develop the discipline of diligent study of God’s word. To this end, here
are six study precepts that are sure to fuel our growth: *God hides truth in
plain sight... in the context. *Let the scriptures interpret themselves. *When
the plain sense makes perfect sense, seek no other sense. *Truth is a mosaic
which God disperses in His word; find all the pieces and you’ll find the whole
Truth. *The New Will defines our life
in Christ under the New Covenant: Our focus is, therefore, the New Testament where
God “speaks to us by His Son” (Heb. 1:2), by and through all revelation birthed in
the Son’s words, life, and ministry. *Workman plow – meditate upon -- God’s
word for a spiritual harvest.
If our
heart’s desire, our vision, is to become mature saints “fully equipped for the
work of ministry” – if doing the Lord’s work here on planet earth is our “ministry”,
our vision – then growing in the knowledge of God – becoming spiritually wise --
is essential. And, a vision without a plan is just… wishful thinking!
BE DILIGENT TO GROW
IN KNOWLEDGE…
(Prov. 9:10; 1 Tim
2:15; 2 Peter3:18; Eph. 4:12)
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