Understanding – Godly Life Part 6

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3-11 TPT (Click Link) 5 So devote yourselves to lavishly supplementing your faith with goodness, and to goodness add understanding, 6 and to understanding add the strength of self-control, and to self-control add patient endurance, and to patient endurance add godliness, 7 and to godliness add mercy toward your brothers and sisters, and to mercy toward others add unending love. (2 Peter 1:5-7 TPT) I’ve heard it said that knowledge is having the information, understanding is knowing what the information means, and wisdom is knowing what to do about it. I know this, friends: we’ve got a lot to learn.

First, there are a lot of things we just don’t know. Then, there are things we “know” that we’re wrong about, either because we learned it from someone who was wrong about it, or we had a very narrow or prejudiced viewpoint and got the meaning of it wrong. And then, there’s the stuff that nobody really knows as much about as they think they do, and it takes a lifetime of open mind and open heart to learn from God’s revelation, our experience, and other people’s input.

If we’re wise, even after we “know” that kind of stuff, we’ll hold it loosely, keep our eyes and ears open, ask lots of questions of God, of others, and of our own heart. And above all, we’ll be willing to gently and diligently shape our body of knowledge and understanding over an entire lifetime. This process is called “repentance”, learning to think differently. For more than twenty years, I’ve made it a point of discipline to read books and articles I disagree with, written by people I have little in common with. I’ve learned so much from people I disagree with! In some cases, I’ve learned that they were right and I was wrong. In some cases I’ve held onto my original viewpoint, but have gained understanding in the process. I’ve learned that another person and I can see something differently, and neither of us be wrong! How hard is it for you to say, “I was wrong! It’s not how I thought it was at all!”? If it’s really hard, and you don’t press through the pain, it’s going to slow you down. If it’s really hard, and you simply won’t go there, you’re stuck!
• Every viewpoint is a view from a point. Broaden your viewpoint.
• Be curious. Look beneath the surface. Turn over a few rocks. Ask lots of questions. Keep your eyes and ears open. Be willing to think differently (repent). Prayer: Father, Please fill us with knowledge, understanding, and wisdom! For Jesus’ sake.

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