Ever wonder why half the grades on the report cards of children involve behavior? Why have all those categories like “works well with others,” “listens to instructions,” or “participates in group activities”? We send children to school to learn the three Rs and instead it’s the three Ss: Sit down, be Still, and keep Silent.
But of course, there is a connection between behavior and education. You cannot listen well if you are talking.
In addition to behavior, there is a connection between attitude and education. A quiet, studious adult cannot fully understand God’s word if he has no faith. Or to bring it closer to home, a lukewarm Christian cannot fully understand the Bible or a sermon if his heart is not right with God.
No matter how smart you are, no matter how quick your mind is to grasp various ideas, you cannot truly understand God’s word if your heart is rebellious.
If you are skeptical, like Eve questioning God’s laws in the Garden of Eden, you will not be able to understand things the way you would if you had a heart filled with faith and trust.
“I understand more than the elders because I obey your precepts” Psalm 119:100.
Look closely at that verse. The psalmist writes that he understands because of what? Because he OBEYS.
“I understand … because I obey” Psalm 119:100.
That is the way faith works. God may have given you a high I.Q. Maybe you are smarter than all your friends, your family, your co-workers. But you will never understand the deep truths of God until you SURRENDER. If your heart is proud or skeptical or otherwise disobedient to God’s word, you will NEVER understand that word.
Conversely, if you obey God’s word, He will give you more and more understanding. And as you grow in understanding His word, you will likewise grow to understand all of this life about which that word speaks.
Remember:
“I understand … because I obey.”
ΑΩ
Household Words: 