“¹Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” – Proverbs 12:1 (ESV)

I studied the word “discipline” back in 2019 and in that time was reminded that discipline is not really punishment that we seem to attribute it to. It is more about dedication and stick-to-itiveness than being “punished”. It is the self accountability to learn and grow.

This morning I got back to my bible study. The reason for my 2 week hiatus is not the focus here, but the fact that I am back to the learning and growing through discipline is. I want to learn from God and for that I will be rewarded with the knowledge He has for me. I cannot and will not expect more than He has for me, but I have to remain disciplined to gain from Him what it is He has for me.

Sticking with it is where we get the bulk of our knowledge. We cannot expect to read something and know all about it. It will take time to experience the information to truly gain in the knowledge category. It is that experience and the self accountability to dig in and know that makes all the difference.

What does it look like in your gaining of knowledge? Are you dedicated to digging in or just with capturing the information? What if you were to really focus on your discipline to gain knowledge?

Knowledge starts with God as I have written about. That knowledge starts as something that is much more simple than just implanting of it in the heart and mind.

“⁸The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.” – Proverbs 10:8 (ESV)

There is a beginning where information or commandment is presented and then it is my duty to receive it. At the time, the information or commandment is presented, I may not know where it will apply or if it is even for the now. God provides what we need, when we need it, and that is why it is important for me to receive it and store it away for use when needed.

“¹⁴The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool brings ruin near.” – Proverbs 10:14 (ESV)

Thanks to God for providing that which I need and giving me the wisdom to know where to store it for future use. I know that I may not always be able to recall that which I received, however, I have it and upon later reflection will realize that knowledge was there all along.

It is my job to receive and then store away all of the information and study it to understand. As I more deeply understand, I will be more able to recall and use the knowledge given.

When you receive information, what are you doing with it? Are you using it now and forgetting about it later? What if you were to store it up and study it to understand so that you could more easily recall when needed?

“⁷The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” – Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)

It is pretty clear here in Proverbs where knowledge starts. I have studied wisdom, fear, and beginning and during those studies was brought to this verse. “Fear of the LORD” is our reverence and commitment to Him. Having reverence and commitment to the Lord is the place to start in our knowledge quest. I am not able to proceed and gain the knowledge that I am looking for without first fearing the LORD.

In the commentary from my ESV Bible this is what is written relating to knowledge and wisdom: “’knowledge’ tends to focus on correct understanding of the world and oneself as creatures of the magnificent and loving God, while ‘wisdom’ is the acquired skill of applying that knowledge rightly,”. So they are related to one another and not one and the same thing, but later in the commentary for the same verse 7 I find the beginning or start of knowledge and wisdom attainment: “submission to the Lord is foundational to the attainment of real understanding.”

I continue to strive to gain knowledge and wisdom each day and as such work to remember where to start, well Trevor, it start with the “fear of the LORD”.

Where are you looking to find knowledge? Are you finding real understanding? What if you started with having that reverence for God and the “fear of the LORD” as you begin your search?

Even Solomon asked for wisdom from God and where he received it, that did not give him any more knowledge than God. I have knowledge of some things and for that I am grateful. God is way smarter than I am. He knows things even before I can even think them.

“¹O LORD, you have searched me and known me! ²You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. ³You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. ⁴Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. ⁵You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. ⁶Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.” – Psalm 139 1-6 (ESV)

What a great passage to remind me of the awesome knowledge that The LORD possesses. He knows everything about me even before I can even think about them.

I work hard to prepare for things and work through contingencies. In fact, even my contingency plans have contingency plans. But God, well He does not have contingency plans. He just has plans and those are carried out daily with me. He know what we will choose and where we are headed at all times. The best part is that He allows us to choose that path and does not dictate our actions.

I know that you may be thinking, if He knows, then why does He not stop us from making decisions that are contrary to His plans for us. Well that is where free will that He grants to us comes in. He allows us to freely choose our own actions, and then we carry them out and when needed, He is there to help us deal with the consequences of that free will choice, Much like Lori and I do with our sons. They have the freedom to make the choices they make and then we are there to help them work through the consequences of their choices.

God indeed knows before we even begin, and I can see Him there in heaven cringing at the choice as He knows it will not end well. But, as the great Father He is, He allows our choice and works help us deal with it once we have realized the error in judgment we made.

God’s knowledge is so deep and wide that I cannot fathom a way for me to attain it. He knows so much about me that I have not thought nor will I ever think about. I can give it the “old college try” to attain that level of knowledge, but I will never be able to know what God knows. My choices will always be just that, my choices. God knows the value of those choices and whether or not they will lead to more work or not, but He allows my choices through His wisdom and knowledge, which are at a level I will never reach in this world.

When you are making decisions, did you know that God already knows your choice? Are you seeking knowledge of everything? What if you were to just accept that there are things that you will never know and that you cannot attain God’s level of knowledge?

I know that my reward is in heaven and that whatever happens here in this world is not indicative of the glory I will receive. I will be faced with adversity and persecution here and yet when I go to meet Jesus I will be greeted with loving open arms and celebrated for the work I have done for God here in this world. But, it is really hard to get past the wealth and great earthly experiences of those here in this world that defy God and live wicked lives.

In my study of the word “knowledge” this morning, I was led to Psalm 73 where I was reminded that the wicked ignore, openly, and actively defy God. And, as in verse 11, they question and mock Him.

“¹¹And they say, ‘How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?’ ¹²Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.” – Psalm 73:11-12 (ESV)

In the next verse (12) it is made know the thoughts and feelings of the wicked. They seem to profit from the rebuke and defiance of God on High. While we, His children seem to struggle daily to just get by. In fact in verses 13-16 it is made mention of that very thought. And then we find the answer in verse 17.

“¹⁷until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.” – Psalm 73:17 (ESV)

I is as we commune with God that we realize the reward we have in doing His work and the demise of those that hold onto the rewards of this world. When the worldly lives of the wicked end, their riches are no longer good to them as they move into an eternal suffering for their actions in this world. We however are granted forever glory for the suffering in this world.

God does know and His knowledge is manifest in the end. We all realize our just rewards when our lives end in this world. The wicked get theirs in the form of eternal suffering. For the righteous, in the form of eternal glory. So, there may be questions as to the knowledge of God today, but know that it will be displayed in the end.

As you live your life today, are you rebuking God and profiting from wicked deeds? Are you suffering as you do the work of God daily? What if you were to just show up and do the work of God in spite of the impact today and know that His knowledge will be displayed in the end?

“¹The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. ²Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” – Psalm 19:1-2 (ESV)

As God led me to this passage, I know there is something to learn from it. I may not have it just right, and frankly I struggled a bit with what I should get here until I read a number of commentaries in my study.

Each day is the precursor to the next and the follower of the previous. And as the succession of days commences so does the knowledge from God, as you see in this commentary from Barnes’ Notes on the Bible for verse 2.

“Each day has its own lesson in regard to the wisdom, the power, and the goodness of God, and that lesson is conveyed from one day to another. There is a perpetual testimony thus given to the wisdom and power of the Great Creator.”

For me I get that I should be learning daily of the lessons God has for me. Not only for today, but yesterday, and tomorrow. God is teaching at all times and his knowledge is give in day and night. In the day He gives us the vocal lessons and in the night the lessons in perseverance. You see in the day we have the light to see and progress and in the night we learn what it is like to be in the dark. And in the dark we have to rely on our eyes to see the glory of God and His knowledge is displayed in the heavens with the beauty that He created. As you see here in the commentary from my NIV Bible;

“To say that the universe happened by chance is absurd. It design, intricacy, and orderliness point to a personally involved Creator.”

So, day by day and night by night I have the opportunity to witness and learn from the knowledge of God. Whether spoke or seen, I am growing when I am devoted to the continuous growth I find in Him.

Where are you finding your knowledge? Are you looking to the world to find what you are looking for daily? What if you turned to God day by day night by night for the knowledge He has for you?

When I learn something, I usually take plenty of time to understand it. But even with my understanding, how much do I really know.

“¹Then the LORD, answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: ‘²Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? ³Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’” – Job 38:1-3 (ESV)

Job was a learned man and had great knowledge. There was plenty that he did not know however, and here the LORD begins to let him know as much. You see even though we may have good knowledge of things, there are still things that we do not know that are hidden from us. In the passage that follows these three verses, God asks questions of Job to demonstrate just how much he did not know.

Just the other week my son was asking a question about something that I did not know and I thought for a moment and admitted that I was not sure of the answer and that we would have to use our resources to discover the answer. By contrast I had overheard a parent who was asked a question by their young child and the answer they gave was clearly incorrect based on what I knew, however they either thought they were correct or did not want to let on they did not know.

It is important for us to admit when we are out of the know with things. As an adult educator, I remind people all the time that even the smartest people do not know everything, but they know where the answers are found and that is what gives them knowledge.

We may not know everything, and frankly will not know everything, but, we can seek that knowledge from God and His word. It is important for us to speak with knowledge, and if there are things we do not know, it is our duty to find out so that we are speaking the truth with a more full understanding. But, we also must know that there are things that are hidden that we may not know until we are in the presence of God in heaven.

When you are out there, what things do you feel like you know that has some things hidden from you? Are you able to admit that you may not know everything? What if instead of giving a potentially misleading or incorrect response, you were to find answers and still admit there is clearly more to learn?

Where is it that we get our knowledge, and especially that of good and evil?

“⁹And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” – Genesis 2:9 (ESV)

God created all, even the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve had it really good as they lived and worked the garden. They had all they needed and everything was good and all they did was good and in the glory of God. There was no evil per se as they lived. They knew God and did all for Him and carried out His tasks for them. Until, that fateful day of going against the one rule God had been very explicit about; no eating from that tree. Once the tree was eaten from Adam and Eve knew right from wrong, good from evil, and so began the cover up.

A newborn child knows no evil, only the good and love that comes. The child learns through experiences and whereas they are responsible for their actions as being good, evil, right, or wrong, they also are given some latitude as they are ignorant to the validity of their actions. The unfortunate thing is that the child, unlike Adam and Eve, learns good and evil through those experiences. Thanks to Adam and Eve, we now know what is right and what is wrong.

It is my duty to take what I know about good, evil, right, and wrong and work toward the good and right. Since I know, I am accountable and responsible. I am not given latitude based on ignorance. I am now responsible to work daily, every hour, minute, and second to do the will of God and be good and right.

Since I am man, hard as I try, I will not always be good and right. Even though I may not be conscious of all of my actions and missteps, I will make mistakes. This is where the knowledge of good and evil come into play. It is my duty, since I know, to repent for where I have failed. I may not know of my specific failures, but I have and for that I have to repent. This is not a once a year or when I think of it type of repentance. I know of evil and wrong, know that I have in some way acted that way and for that I must not let it fester with God and repent daily for my transgressions.

God only wants good from me, but He also knows that I am man and therefore has made the provision for my redemption. I know of good and evil, right and wrong and thanks to God’s gift of salvation, I am redeemed.

When you look at your actions today, are you always aware of all of them and their impact to others? Are you conscious of your knowledge of good and evil? What if you were to approach the day armed with that knowledge and did all you could to remain good and right, and then at the end of the day, repented for those area where you missed the mark?

I have been set apart by God for His Glory. He knew me from even as I began to form in my mothers womb. He brought me together to be who I am.

“¹³For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. ¹⁵My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” – Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV)

I can see here the care at which God created me. I was not just born into this world. I was put together carefully and fully to be a child of God. I was “wonderfully made”, which in my ESV Bible as a footnote means that I was “fearfully set apart”. The commentary in my ESV Bible indicates that to mean “God setting his people apart or making a distinction between them and those who are not his people”. I was, even as I was being formed, set apart as one of God’s chosen.

In my study of the word “fear” I have referenced that fear to really be respect and adoration. When I place that in the place of the word “fearfully” here in this passage, I get that I was created and set apart, respected and adored by God. I have to admit that as I was typing that last sentence a wellspring of emotion came over me. I was adored and respected even before I was “in” this world. God, as He created and molded me, loved me.

I do not claim to be a theologian or a great man of religious knowledge, but what I do claim is to be a child of God. One that respects and adores Him as He respects and adores me back.

What are your thought on your make up? Are you aware that you were made and created to be God’s? What if you were to accept and really believe that you were fearfully set apart out of respect and adoration by God?

We are not to be fearful of what is to come, but to be faithful instead.

“¹⁰Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” – Revelation 2:10 (ESV)

John is very straight forward here with the church at Smyrna. He lets them know in no uncertain terms that they are about to suffer for their faithfulness to Christ. They will even be put to death in martyrdom for their beliefs. And then, he gives them the jewel of reward that is to come in the form of the “crown of life” from Christ for their faith and dedication to Him.

“¹¹He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” – Revelation 2:11 (ESV)

They are to be dedicated to Christ and doing His work while they are here in this world. As they do, they are recognized by God for the work and “will not be hurt by the second death”, meaning that they will be rewarded with eternal life in heaven when they have left this world.

I am encouraged here with the revelations. I am reminded to “do the work” of Christ each day and suffer through whatever adversity I come across. I may not be in the position where I could be cast into the position of possible death, but that does not mean that I will not be persecuted for my actions that are in line with Christ.

I have been and will continue to be an outsider as to society as my beliefs and actions are not in line with what they see as acceptable. I will not accept things that are contrary to Christ and I will not simply just allow them. I will make known my alignment to Christ and how that alignment impacts the way I lead my life. I will not be afraid to go it alone. I will not be fearful of what others might think. I will be faithful in the work I am doing and that works alignment and following with the plan that God has for me and my life, here in this world and in heaven to come.

What is the approach you take to the path God has for your, fear or faith? Are you playing the game in this world to be accepted by society and avoiding suffrage as you follow Christ? What if you were faithful and not fearful, how would your approach to today be?