For the Mature

Look at this passage from Hebrews:

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.  In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!  Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Wouldn’t it be silly for us to still be feeding our grown children milk from a bottle?  Ridiculous, right?  I mean, who does that?

However, when we turn away from the understanding that brings us peace that passes understanding (by giving thanks and rejoicing in Christ Jesus),  we are in essence putting back on diapers and running after a milk bottle.

Understanding Christ and his great love for us and desiring and pursuing his righteous work in our lives is maturity.  In fact, it’s like growing up and eating solid foods, food that sticks to the bones and makes us strong.

Notice the phrase “by constant use.”  It takes consistent choices to understand and learn at Jesus’ feet of his word, his ways, and his wisdom.  It takes study, applying ourselves to what we’ve learned, and grasping it – understanding it. 

Oh sure, there will be things we do not understand here in this life, but there’s plenty to understand and grasp and drink and grow and learn – and never stop learning of his goodness in our lives!

I don’t want to be an adult Christian sucking on a bottle, do you?  What an awful thought…

Otherwise...

Remember yesterday’s devo where we lined out what a rich life looks like? 

I Timothy give us the opposite kind of picture:

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions  and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

True understanding comes when we grasp the mystery of Christ’s love for us. Anything other than  that and we understand nothing at all. 

In fact, these verses describe a life full of misunderstanding of the love of Christ:

Always quarreling

Always envying

Always striving

Always talking in a harmful manner

Always suspicious

Always causing friction

If that describes your life or someone you know, pray.  Pray for the truth to be revealed of what it means to gain understanding and riches in this life.  It had nothing to do with financial gain.

It has everything to do with Jesus.

The Mystery

Colossians 2 says My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ.

Most of us have goals in life.  

In fact, a lot of our unspoken goals are our striving to understand things. We want to understand why bad things happen to good people, how things work and operate in the world, how to raise a healthy family, how to make lots of money to secure our future, etc. 

And we spend a good part of our lives in pursuit of understanding these things so that we can then control them.

However, this verse says that “full riches” come when we understand Christ – the mystery of God.  And the only way we can fully understand him is to surrender to him and trust him, acknowledging that His ways are not like ours, and that’s a good thing.

Looking for a rich life?  Seeking to understand and be understood?  Want to be encouraged and feel loved?

Understand this:  For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him will receive eternal life.

What a mystery, what a gift that I want to comprehend and receive.  That understanding makes me full and complete.

Transcendence

Philippians 4 says

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I would love to experience peace that transcends understanding, wouldn’t you?  But I think those who experience it the most are those who have less than ideal peaceful circumstances.  If we have peace when things are going well, that’s understandable – good times make for peaceful sleep.

But when we have peace when circumstances are stormy, now that’s something that makes no sense – it transcends – rises above – all understanding.

In fact, that kind of peace – the kind that comes in the storm – is what guards our hearts and minds.  And…it only comes when we rejoice, when we are not anxious, when we offer and toss up every worry to HIM, and when we give thanks.

That’s a lot of prerequisites to that peace that rises above…

The Will

Ephesians 5 says Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Throughout my own life I have prayed for the Lord’s will, from seeking a job, to finding a house, to decisions about giving, how to raise my kids, etc.  I think most of us who follow Him want to know his will so that our lives will be successful and blessed.

However, many times in the Bible we are told what God’s will is for our lives and here in this verse we are called to understand it.

So, just what is it?

The answer follows in the same chapter…

…be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I’m thinking if we focus on understanding this part of his will, all of those other things we’re seeking will fall into place as well.

In fact, the bible says it will.

Opened Up

Luke 24

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

Jesus taught in parables – short stories with a message – and many times they weren’t understood by those who were listening. Their understanding was limited because many didn’t even believe he was the promised Messiah.  Their unbelief kept them from understanding His words.

If we really believe someone is dead or gone or out of our lives, and they appear in front of us – we will stare in unbelief and do not believe a word out of their mouths until they prove their identity.

Jesus lived in front of his disciples and demonstrated who he was in his actions of love, and his words from the Father.  Yet they didn’t understand what he was saying.

Until…

He opened their minds so that they could understand.

Our minds aren’t geared to understand that which doesn’t fit into our boxes of how the world works and ticks.

We need a supernatural touch from Him in order to gain understanding of the God who works in ways of wonder – like feeding 5000 with a small lunch.

And once we gain that understanding, what will we do with it?

That’s something to think about…

Love with Understanding

Mark 12 is one of the verses quoted many times, from the New Testament, which sums up the Christian life:

To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Some other verses say “mind” instead of “understanding.”

Oh, we fall in love with Him with all our hearts when we realize our need for him and the sins we’ve done, and we receive his forgiveness.  That feels so good.

Oh, we love him with all our strength when we stand firm, we pray without ceasing, we lift our hands in worship when we don’t feel like it… That takes effort but we do it.

But oh, do we love him with all of our understanding?

That’s difficult because we don’t understand so many things!

But here we are told that He requires it, and he desires it more than offerings and sacrifices.

In fact, we cannot do the second half of this command – love our neighbor as yourself – unless we understand His ways.

Lord, we pray for the ability to love you with our understanding and our minds, that part of us that reasons, analyzes, criticizes and judges – laying it all down in favor of knowing YOU – the good, holy, and righteous God that you are.

Try to Understand

Matthew 16 asks a question

Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?

Remember this story?  There wasn’t enough food for the masses, and all that was available was a small boy’s lunch, which Jesus multiplied and fed everyone, until they were satisfied.

What if we had been in that crowd and seen that miracle?  Would we ever again be afraid of hunger or lack?

It’s amazing how we can go out of one miracle into the depths of despair when another need arises.

It’s because we don’t understand.

If we understood who it was that blessed that lunch and made it multiply, we would never again worry or fret about our needs and our future.

I marvel at that story and wish I’d been there to see it.  But I have seen it.  God has provided for me over and over again in ways that I’ve seen and ways I’ve not seen.  And yet I still default into worry when the next need arises…

Why can’t we get it?  What keeps us from understanding?

Remember the five loaves and the baskets that were gathered full of leftovers.

And understand.

Otherwise...

Matthew 13 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

Calloused hands are those that have skin that is no longer sensitive to touch because the skin is too thick.

Deaf ears are those that have not been kept free of debris, those that have turned away from hearing the truth.

Blind eyes are eyes that have become permanently shut due to dust and dirt constantly blowing at them, with no protection whatsoever – or due to injury from a blunt trauma.

It’s easy to become a person with all three of those descriptors above – and how sad an existence for those who are hardened, deaf, and blind to Jesus and his love.

However, when understanding comes of who He is, this verse says their eyes will see, their ears will hear and He will heal them…

In fact, understanding with our hearts is like lotion to our skin – it softens and makes pliable again that which was unfeeling and uncaring – so that we can again be touched and held by the One who understands and made us.

Turn.

Open your eyes.

Listen again.

Let him heal…

Realize It

Hosea 14

Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

Did you know that those who do not seek the Lord, who do not know him, will never understand His ways or rest in this life, because His ways will be a stumbling block for them?  Tragedy, loss, unanswered prayers will all sink them into pits of despair and hopelessness, because they do not know and realize and understand His ways.

The ways of the Lord are right.

Those who get that, walk in them.

Those who walk in them do not stumble.

Those who do not stumble are wise.

Those who are wise understand.

Those who understand know that…

The ways of the Lord are right.

Whatever is going on around us on television, across the world, in our own neighborhood, or in the lives of our friends and family, we can know that the Lord’s ways are right, and those are the ones we need to walk in and realize.

I don’t want to stumble or be the cause of someone else to stumble by my lack of understanding of who He really is. Do you?

Boast About This

Jeremiah 9 says … but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

We shared lots of verses about boasting a while back, and here’s one that tells us something we can boast about – that we have the understanding to know the Lord.

If we really, really know Him, we will believe and know that he is kind, just and righteous.

We won’t think he’s mean when he doesn’t answer, we won’t shake a fist at him when we hear of injustice around us, and we won’t discard his holy work in our lives.

When we do those things we don’t get it, we don’t realize, and we don’t understanding who He is, and that grieves his heart.

But what delights him is when we know who he is.  Isn’t it wonderful to be known by someone, to have a friend who gets you, to be embraced by someone who realizes your worth?

Ask for understanding, but not for understanding of the why’s of life – but rather to understanding that He is the Lord and He is good.

That understanding will sustain you throughout all of life…

Do You Know?

Isaiah 40 might contain my favorite verse on understanding!

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

Even our best friends, our most awesome of parents, and the incredible enduring athletes of all time grow tired and weary.  We have to sleep.  We have to rest.  We have to retreat in order to reenter life.  And our understanding of live is extremely limited by our finite minds.  And all of the wondering and seeking to understand and run and do and be makes us tired.

But not so with the Lord!

He is the definition of everlasting.

He is the definition of continuous creativity.

He is the definition of endurance.

He is the definition of understanding.

When all else fails around us, he is there.  When everyone falls asleep beside us, he with us and sees us.  When nothing makes sense in our world he understands, because he has a good plan.

Don’t you know this?  Haven’t you heard it?

Now you have…

A Promise

Isaiah 32 gives us more hope!

The fearful heart will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear.

I love this verse.

I think of all of those around the world who live in fear every moment of the day because of abuse, war, and tragedy.

I think of those who cannot speak clearly because of disease, age, disabilities or trauma.

And then I realize that there is hope for everyone who lives with these conditions because of Him.

All fear will vanish because they will know and be known – and understand His great love.

All stammering will become understandable because of being understood by our Maker.

If you know someone in either of these categories, pray this verse over them and believe.

And watch its promises come to pass.

In Awe

Isaiah 29 says When they see among them their children, the work of my hands, they will keep my name holy;  they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.  Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding; those who complain will accept instruction.

What a message of hope!

Our children are indeed the work of His hands and when we observe just that one blessing alone it should bring us to our knees in worship, in awe of the Giver of Life.

Those who are wayward in spirit and those who complain – I’ve been in that crowd before – have you?

My spirit has grown faint and weary and I’ve griped about everything I don’t understand.

But wait, there’s hope for me…and you!

When I observe God’s blessings, when I bless the Holy One and stand in awe of him, good things happen.

I will gain understanding and receive instruction.

It’s only when I turn my eyes away from Him that I stray.

But when I  fix my eyes on Him, I stay...

The Work of God

Ecclesiastes 11:5 says As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

Here again we are reminded that we cannot and never will understand the Maker of all things and the things he makes and how they work. 

We can never understand his work – because it’s marvelous and too big for us.

However, we can understand his ways, lean into them, and lean away from our own understanding.

As long as we spend our lives observing the wind (hardships) and trying to figure them out and control it, studying to acquire knowledge too high to be obtained (science and all things intellectual), we will never truly get understanding at all.

Isn’t that a paradox of sorts?

And don’t you love a good a paradox?

God knew we would strive to know, but he knew that in knowing what we strive for, we would still be searching…

God knows what it is we need to satisfy, and he clearly tells us to go after it and get it, and peace will be ours.

What are you searching for?

It Looks Like...

After we are told to gain wisdom and get understanding, we are then clearly told what getting understanding looks like in several verses in Proverbs:

It looks like holding our tongue (Proverbs 11:12)

It looks like patience (Proverbs 14:29)

It looks like keeping a straight course (Proverbs 15:21)

It looks like heeding correction (Proverbs 15:32)

It looks like being even-tempered (Proverbs 17:27)

All of those attributes are things we should seek because they are clearly characteristics of people who have realized the value and wisdom of submitting themselves to God and his love for them and others…

I want to get understanding.  Do you?

Just the Beginning...

Proverbs 9:10 is a further clarification of yesterday’s verse:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Remember we said it costs all that we have to get wisdom and understanding?

Here is what getting wisdom looks like – fearing the Lord – revering Him and honoring him.

Here is what understanding looks like – the knowledge of the Holy One – recognizing that he alone holds it all.

I think the only way we can truly come to fear the Lord and acknowledge Him as the Holy One is to walk with him over time, staying in his Word, seeking his face.

After all, that’s the way relationships are built, strengthened and become lasting.

And that type of life requires sacrifice on our part, giving it all up for Him, leaning not on our own understanding, but trusting that His ways are perfect.

That kind of wisdom and understanding doesn’t come overnight, any more than maturity comes to a baby in an instant.  It takes a lifetime of growth and beauty that emerges over time surrounded in hope and His love.

All You Have

Proverbs 4 says, The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Is there anything in life that you would spend “all you have” to get?  I cringe when I spend over $100 on anything, and I can’t imagine giving all that I have to get any material thing at all.  Those things all pass away!

But here we are told to get wisdom and to get understanding.  The word “get” implies that we have to go after them.  They don’t just “happen” to us.  We have to desire them and realize them in our lives by living and leaning and trusting in Him.

Remember we said “understanding” means having good insight or judgment?  It also means being aware of others and their feelings.

Having good insight will motivate us to get that which we know is worth everything we have – understanding.

And the cool thing is that God give it to us, liberally, for the asking.

Leaning

My husband’s favorite verse is Proverbs 3:5 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

When we lean on our own understanding for many things in life, we absolutely fall.  

In fact, visualize yourself leaning on a wall in a house without a foundation, and see where you land.  Flat on the ground! 

Our understanding of things too marvelous for us is like that.   We have no foundation for some of the mysteries of life – just like we have no foundation or knowledge of lots of things in life that we indeed “lean” on.  

We lean on our ability to walk, without really comprehending how it is that we tick, move, and breath – yet we walk.  So there are many things we take by “faith.”  

God requires that we trust in Him with all that is in us – and not to lean only on those things we understand in life.

What an adventure life is with Him, when we lean on Him, and what utter failure and boredom is it to only lean on that which we understand – which is so little…

Turn Your Ear

Proverbs 2:

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,  then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.  Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.  For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.

No commentary needed today…except I want wisdom and understanding…do you?

No Limit

And to follow up from yesterday’s passage, we read Psalm 147:

He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.  Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

What?  God knows the stars by name, and yet the number of stars in the universe are named by him (that’s 100 billion names!) 

He knows our names, too.

If we just understand all that this one verse implies, we will fall on our knees and understand his great love for us.

Then…the psalmist ascribes to God might and power…and understanding…to which there is no limit.

You think no one understands your plight, your situation, your dilemma? 

That’s just not true.

The God we serve is an understanding God, so much that he knew we’d need daily reminders of his love, he knew we’d need to know that he cares about details of the masses, and he knew we’d need to see his might and power demonstrated above us.

Look up.

He understands.  He’s powerful.  He’s mighty.

And to all of that there is no limit.

By Understanding

Psalm 136 is interesting.

…to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever.

who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever.

 who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever.

Okay, we get that his love endures forever…or do we?

I find it interesting that this passage says the heavens were made by God’s “understanding” instead of his power and might.

Another definition of understanding is the ability to empathize with someone or be aware of their feelings, like when we understand when a friend is feeling down.

Have you ever looked all that God created and realized that because he understood that we would need something massive, something that encircles us, something beyond us, to remind of His love...therefore he made the heavens!?

Isn’t that an awesome thought?

By his understanding, his awareness of our hearts and minds, he created the amazing ceiling above our heads that twinkles with stars at night, and houses a huge round ball of fire by day – so we too could understand his amazing love for us.

Wow…