Knowing, Yet Not Knowing

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Knowing, Yet Not Knowing

Psalm 119:66 prays,

Teach me good discernment  and knowledge,  for I believe  in Your commandments.

It is so good  to believe  that God’s commandments are good — and good  for us.     We can believe  that it truly is  a good thing  to honor the LORD  as the one and only God Almighty.     We can believe  that it truly is  a good thing  to not steal,  lie,  commit adultery,  be covetous  or slanderous,  etc.

As much as we really “know” all that,  it can be very difficult  to put it  into practice every day,  as we should.     Common sense tells us  it is not good  for us  to steal  or lie.     Common sense taps us  on the shoulder  regarding all  of God’s commandments.

But,  it is one thing  to “know”  God’s commandments  in our mind,  and quite another  to “want”  to put them  into practice  from the depths  of our heart.     So,  we easily come up  with all sorts  of excuses  for disobeying any  of these commands.

That’s why we need  to earnestly pray  with the psalmist  that God would,  “Teach me  good discernment  and knowledge”.

“Discernment” with God’s commandments  is the ability  to recognize  the differences  between the utmost goodness  and love involved  in obedience  —  and the utter degradation  and evil involved  in disobedience.

When we are  in the middle  of a temptation,  it’s like we suddenly  get blinded.     We argue  with ourselves  about how there won’t be any consequences  —  how nobody really cares  —  how we have a right  to do this  for our own pleasure  —  how we deserve  to have the pleasure  of doing this,  etc.

We are blinded  to the truths  of how caving in  to this temptation  is actually very loveless  —  how it will damage  our whole future here  on earth  —  how it might rob us  of our eternal life  in heaven  —  of how disrespectful it is  towards God,  who has shown us  so much love  and faithfulness,  etc.

In our mind,  suddenly everything ugly  and degrading  is thought of  as good and needful.     That’s awful  and senseless.

With such thinking,  we no longer have  “good discernment  and knowledge“.     The head knowledge  we have  has been warped  and we no longer  really understand  what real love  is all about.

That’s why  we need  to pray this prayer  with the psalmist  every day.     Every day  we will be tempted  to do something wrong.     We’re never going  to get away  from temptations  while we live here  on earth.

We need  to care enough  about our lives,  the lives  of everyone around us,  and the Lord  who died  for our salvation  that we will earnestly pray  for God  to give us  the “good discernment and knowledge”  that we so desperately need.     We need  to remember  just how much  God has loved us  by having Jesus suffer  and die  for our sins.     That love  should lead our thinking  and discernment.

Then  as we lean  on our Lord  for His wisdom  and guidance,  we will be glad  for His Fatherly love  in leading us,  and say,  “Hallelujah!     The Lord cares  for our every thought  and way.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional  to glorify  the LORD of lords  and GOD of gods.

Pray for our country.

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The LORD  made this day, let us rejoice  and be glad  in Him.

Psalm 118:24

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The word of the LORD is tried;

He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.

Psalm 18:30

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Sing for joy  in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming  to the upright.

Psalm 33:1

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How blessed are those  who dwell  in Thy house!

They are ever praising Thee.

Psalm 84:4

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Just as a father  has compassion  on his children,

So the LORD  has compassion  on those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:13

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O give thanks  to the LORD,  for He is good;

For His lovingkindness  is everlasting.

Psalm 107:1

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Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart  of those who seek the LORD  be glad.

Psalm 105:3

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Not that I have already obtained it,  or have already  become perfect,   but I press on  in order that  I may  lay hold  of that  for which also  I was laid hold of  by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12

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