Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
… knowledge and depth of insight,
Summary: Knowledge and insight are related but different. Understanding why we need both can greatly enhance our relationship with God.
Before we move on, we need to spend a few more minutes exploring what “knowledge and depth of insight” mean. To review, Paul starts this passage with these words:
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight …”
Continue reading “Philippians 1:9b – Godly Love – Part II”
Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom …
Summary: Paul’s letter points us to a test for determining if a religious rule or regulation truly honors God.
If we are going to be able to recognize the kind of “rules” that Paul is talking about, we need to pay close attention to the clues Paul gives us. His first clue is that “Such regulations [aka ‘rules’] … have an appearance of wisdom …”
What does that mean?
Interestingly, the Bible has a lot to say about “wisdom.” The first thing to know about wisdom is this:
Continue reading “Colossians 2:23a – The Wisdom Test”For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form …
Summary: Sometimes we have to experience something to know what it is. When it comes to understanding the spiritual reality of Jesus, tasting is believing.
It is interesting how God’s Spirit weaves patterns in the fabric of our lives (John 3:8). Today, before writing this meditation, I was at a Bible Study discussing a similar question. In this passage, Paul writes:
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13)
The last part of his sentence reads, “… attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
Continue reading “Colossians 2:9 – Full of Jesus”…so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding,
Summary: “Complete understanding” is very different than “understanding” that is not complete.
One of the things that makes writing fun for me is being able to play with words. For example, what is the opposite of “understanding?” Wouldn’t it be “misunderstanding?”
A misunderstanding happens when you don’t have all the information you need for complete understanding. However — and this is very important! — understanding and misunderstanding both feel exactly the same!
Continue reading “Colossians 2:2c – Coming Together”I want you to know, brothers and sisters …
Summary: How we acquire knowledge is an involved process. Paul is expressing his desire that we share in knowledge that the Lord has given him.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:11a – The Real Deal”—not as unwise but as wise
Summary: Wisdom is a word that describes a state of mind. We attribute wisdom to the things people do when they work out well. People who are careful how they live and keep their eyes on Christ do well.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:15b – The Light of Christ”… but rather thanksgiving.
Summary: Paul has a simple instruction for us, when we talk, we should speak words of thanksgiving. Finding something to be thankful for can be a challenge. Fortunately, when we step back and take a look at the big picture, our reasons to be thankful become clear.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:4b – Worse Than Death”… the knowledge of the Son of God
Summary: Paul’s word for “knowledge” leads us to a deeper understanding of what it means to know Christ and how that affects us.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:13b – Equipped for Jesus”… and to know this love that surpasses knowledge …
Summary: To question what we know is to question the foundation of our ability to reason. When we discover that we are both flesh and spirit, we find that knowing the love of God is a spiritual experience far beyond what the flesh and understand.
Continue reading “Ephesians 3:19a – A Surpassing Love”
… and you will do well to pay attention to it …
Summary: Peter gives us another opportunity to review his instructions in verses 5-8.
Continue reading “2 Peter 1:19c — The Law and the Prophets”