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Theme: BUILDING NEW JERUSALEM
Text: “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” – Matthew 13:23.
Comment: The word of God requires one to have the knowledge of God – (Proverbs 19:2) and also to apply this knowledge. The application of this knowledge is called understanding. In Proverbs 4:5-7, we are told, “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding”. See also Proverbs 2: 10-15
Spiritual understanding is very important in the service of God. Each person should pray God to give him the understanding of His word lest he be taken advantage of by the devil who is ever opposed to God. The Psalmist prayed to God thus: “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” (Psalm 119: 34)
It is because of the importance of understanding that St. Paul said he did not cease to pray for the Christians at Colossae desiring that they be “filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding”, that they “might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” – Colossians 1:9, 10.