KNOWLEDGE

     A serious deficiency of knowledge is nothing new. "My people
are destroyed for lack of knowledge," God declared through the
prophet, "because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject
thee..." (Hosea 4:6). The importance and essentiality of knowledge
is taught and accented in a number of ways in God's word.
     Most all will readily agree that love is required to please God
(1 Corinthians 13:1-7). But, very few realize that knowledge and
true love are inseparable. Consider Paul's language, "And this I
pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and
all judgment" (Philippians 1:9). Hence, it is in the climate or
atmosphere of knowledge that our love is to abound.
     Actually, how can one love God if we do not have some knowledge
of the God of the Bible? We must know of his nature and goodness (1
John 4:19, 11). How is it possible to truly love one of whom you
have no knowledge? Furthermore, to love God we  must keep His
commandments (John 14:15). John wrote, "For this is the love of God
that we keep His commandments..." (1 John 5:3). We must know God's
commandments in order to keep them. Thus, the necessity of
knowledge.
     The scriptures teach that faith is a requisite to pleasing God
(Hebrews 11:6). Yet, faith comes only through knowledge. "So then
faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans
10:17). To be saved one must know what the Lord commands. Thus, the
necessity of knowledge.
     There is also a relationship between knowledge and zeal. Who
would deny the need for zeal? However, zeal without knowledge is
like a run away car without a driver. "Brethren, my heart's desire
and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. For I bear
them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to
knowledge" (Romans 10:1-3). "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ..." (2 Peter 3:18). In view of
the seriousness of knowledge, let us open our Bibles and start
diligently studying them.
       ---Jack Thompson, preacher for White Park church of Christ

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