Did you know that God wants us to grow up? Yes, that right, God expects us to grow up but not in the sense that we are to become upstanding citizens and productive members of society. No, God wants us to grow up in our understanding, grow up in our understanding of all things God.
“Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men” (I Corinthians 14:20).
We are told not to be like children or immature in our understanding, but in our understanding to be men or mature instead. God has given us certain things, that when we fully use them, we can become mature or complete in our thinking, in our reasoning, and in our discerning.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:16-17).
God has given us the word of truth to tell us what to believe (for doctrine), what is wrong (for reproof), how to correct wrong (for correction), how to live (for instruction in righteousness). We are to rely on this word of truth because it includes everything needed for us to be perfect or to grow in maturity, to grow in understanding, to grow in wisdom, so that we can be proficient and extremely capable of doing what God wants.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Traditional teachings have always attempted to convince us that we can never understand God. You see, we have been led to believe or taught that “the clay cannot understand the potter.” We have been taught that “God’s ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts.” With that said, it has been concluded that “it is not possible for a finite being, us, to understand an infinite being, God.” And the biggest one of all, “if it be God’s will,” suggesting that it is impossible for us to know God’s will. All of these phrases have been used to make us cast doubt on the fact that we can know God intimately. Over the years, these phrases and the like have been used to control us both mentally and emotionally. They have kept many of us in bondage, unaware of the truth that we can know God and know his will.
It is possible for us to recognize, to know, and to understand God. Yes, contrary to popular beliefs, it is possible for us to know God intimately, without question or doubt. We are told, “to get wisdom because wisdom is the principal thing.” And we are told, “with all of our getting to also get understanding (Proverbs 4:5-7). Ask yourself this question, “For what purpose or for what reason does God instruct us to get wisdom, the principal thing, and then in all of that getting, to get understanding?” God wants us to do more than just exist.
“…but we are to hold to the truth with love in our hearts. We are to grow up and be more like Christ” (Ephesians 4:15 NLV). “But, strange as it seems, we Christians actually do have within us a portion of the very thoughts and mind of Christ” (I Corinthians 2:16 TLB).
God wants us to grow up to become more and more like Christ. And as odd as it may sound, we actually have inside of us a portion of the very thoughts and mind of Christ. God has given us everything that we need to grow up in our understanding and to grow up in our understanding of all things God.
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (II Peter 1:3).
God wants us to know. God wants us to understand. God wants us to reason. God wants us to think. God wants us to “grow up.”
We pray that this inspirational message will be a blessing to you as well as informative. If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well. Amen.
Enjoy your blessings - KW
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