Spiritual Growth – Part Two

“….Grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” II Peter 3:8

        “….add to your virtue….”

Knowledge is insight, understanding. Something has to be known before it can be understood. Therefore “Study to grow in faith and in knowledge.” Spend time studying the Bible. That involves more than just reading the Scripture. Engage in the exploration of the meaning of it. Move it from the head to the heart. This takes time and a deliberate desire to continue.

We gain knowledge to understand how a thing operates or what it means. 

The better you know the man of the Word the better you know the Word of the word of the man.

There’s a story about a proud young man who came to Socrates asking for knowledge. He walked up to the muscular philosopher and said, “O great Socrates, I come to you for knowledge.” Socrates recognized a pompous numbskull when he saw one. He led the young man through the streets, to the sea, and chest deep into water. Then he asked, “What do you want?” “Knowledge, O wise Socrates,” said the young man with a smile. Socrates put his strong hands on the man’s shoulders and pushed him under. Thirty seconds later Socrates let him up. “What do you want?” he asked again. “Wisdom,” the young man sputtered, “O great and wise Socrates.” Socrates crunched him under again. Thirty seconds passed, thirty-five. Forty. Socrates let him up. The man was gasping. “What do you want, young man?” Between heavy, heaving breaths the fellow wheezed, “Knowledge, O wise and wonderful….” Socrates jammed him under again forty seconds passed. fifty. “What do you want?” “Air!” he screeched. “I need air!” “When you want knowledge as you have just wanted air, then you will have knowledge.”    

Do you want Bible knowledge enough to make an effort to get it? 

You may own a Bible. It is a possession. You may read it and it becomes a precept. When you live it, it is a practice. The objective is to move it from a possession to a practice. 

Grow to the point you can say, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.” (Psalm 119:11-18)