"Strive for wisdom, not so that men will respect and admire
you, but so that they will celebrate God's greatness.
The Word of God is called a light unto our feet-- not to our
tongues, merely to speak about-- but to our feet, to walk by. Getting knowledge
is your work; opening your heart to understand is the work of the
Holy Spirit. But you must ask Him for wisdom and believe He will give it to
you. God has promised wisdom to those who "ask in faith, nothing
wavering" James 1:6. Strive for wisdom, not so that men will respect and
admire you, but so that they will celebrate God's greatness. The end of every
human effort should be to magnify His name. Go to God with David's prayer on
your lips: "Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk
of thy wondrous works" Psalm 119:27.
Do not give up when the lessons are long or hard to
understand. Scripture promises, "Then shall we know, if we follow on to
know the Lord Hosea 6:3. The mysteries of Christ are not learned in a day. Too
many read a chapter or two in the Bible, then for lack of interest put it down
for weeks at a time and never look at it. Bernard compares the study of the
Word and the mere reading of it to the difference between a close friendship
and a casual acquaintance. If you want genuine knowledge, he says, you will
have to do more than greet the Word politely on Sundays or nod reverently when
you chance to meet it on the street. You must walk with it and talk with it
every day of the week. You must invite it into your private chambers, and
forego other pleasures and worldly duties to spend time in its company.
Do you long for great intimacy with your heavenly Father?
Then meditate often and long on His Word. David likens the Word for sweetness
to honey and the honeycomb. Like the honeycomb, the Bible is so rich and full
that at first reading some wisdom will now and then drop from it. But unless
you press it by meditation, you leave the most behind."
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