It's time for another pop quiz. Scripture tells us to examine ourselves and our faith, so that's what we are going to do today. Ready? Good.
1. Are you walking worthy of the Lord?
2. Are you fully pleasing Him?
3. Are you being fruitful in every good work?
4. Are you increasing in the knowledge of God?
5. Are you being strengthened with all might according to His glorious power?
6. Are you experiencing patience and longsuffering with joy?
So, how did you do? Are you sort of wishing God graded on a curve? I know I didn't exactly "ace" this test.
I don't usually advertise products via this email but today I want to. I've tried a lot of different courses, seminars, books, etc., to try to grow spiritually, to try to get a better "grade" on the quiz above. To be honest, none of them seemed to work very well. I may have had a little improvement for a short time but most fell short. But, I finally found a book that can really help me. In fact, it's the only book that can really help me. The really good news is you probably already own this book ... it's the Bible. Here's a little from it:
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy ~ Col 1:9-11 (NKJV)
The word knowledge is the usual word in the NT with an added preposition that intensifies its meaning. This is not an inner impression or feeling, but a deep and thorough knowledge of the will of God that is finally and completely revealed in the Word of God. The word 'spiritual' in the phrase "wisdom and spiritual understanding" modifies both 'wisdom' (the ability to accumulate and organize principles from Scripture) and 'understanding' (the application of those principles in daily living).
If you want to score better on the above quiz, it's an open book test ... but the Bible is the only book in the world that has the answers. Spend your time reading, studying and applying what you find in that book and you'll do just fine. But remember, when it comes to application ... it's according to His glorious power, you have no power without Him.
1. Are you walking worthy of the Lord?
2. Are you fully pleasing Him?
3. Are you being fruitful in every good work?
4. Are you increasing in the knowledge of God?
5. Are you being strengthened with all might according to His glorious power?
6. Are you experiencing patience and longsuffering with joy?
So, how did you do? Are you sort of wishing God graded on a curve? I know I didn't exactly "ace" this test.
I don't usually advertise products via this email but today I want to. I've tried a lot of different courses, seminars, books, etc., to try to grow spiritually, to try to get a better "grade" on the quiz above. To be honest, none of them seemed to work very well. I may have had a little improvement for a short time but most fell short. But, I finally found a book that can really help me. In fact, it's the only book that can really help me. The really good news is you probably already own this book ... it's the Bible. Here's a little from it:
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy ~ Col 1:9-11 (NKJV)
The word knowledge is the usual word in the NT with an added preposition that intensifies its meaning. This is not an inner impression or feeling, but a deep and thorough knowledge of the will of God that is finally and completely revealed in the Word of God. The word 'spiritual' in the phrase "wisdom and spiritual understanding" modifies both 'wisdom' (the ability to accumulate and organize principles from Scripture) and 'understanding' (the application of those principles in daily living).
If you want to score better on the above quiz, it's an open book test ... but the Bible is the only book in the world that has the answers. Spend your time reading, studying and applying what you find in that book and you'll do just fine. But remember, when it comes to application ... it's according to His glorious power, you have no power without Him.
Copyright © 2006 Greg Holl. All rights reserved.
