UNDERSTANDING

Put differently, without the highest understanding, there is neither 'life' nor 'living'. The gain of the highest understanding is the gaining of the gloriously and eternally sacred, which has no earthly equal. All else is an unsatisfying mismatching of a misshapen puzzle piece with that space in reality, reserved for God and the godly. Our heart and soul, individually and collectively, yearns for that understanding to find that vacuum, without which, we dwindle with an inexhaustible spiritual itch. Substitutes, however creatively conjured, will not meet the needs of the common man, or any generation of mankind. Unless we relate well, vertically, our horizontal experiences will be amiss. We must get the gift.

So says the psalmist, "Give me understanding and I shall live" [v. 144b]. The statutes for every detail are found as worthy of delight, and love, being righteous and from a faithful God. From a forever God, His word is righteous forever [v. 144a].  It is the will, and word of God which truly humanizes us with a humanity which is 'right' before God. What was 'lost' is recreated by deep understanding, given by God, available to be embraced as a gift.

That 'understanding' is that God saves, and we appreciate such through and upon the life of Christ Jesus, the righteous. 'He' who gave His life for us, lived within our history, died, and from the grave, arose, demonstrating God as love, as faithfulness, and as mercy, while being holy. Having this understanding we look more and more like Jesus, day to day, with a living that is akin to worship, a living trusting upon God's word, allowing impact [within the soul], instruction [for the mind], impulsion [suitable for transformation], inspiration [perfecting the gaze], impressivity [prompting outreach], invitation [feeding hope], improvement [bettering the walk], investigation [prompting confession as need], and illumination [effecting the nearby with light]. Also brought of the word is irritation, the thorn we often need [redeeming one's practice, permitting humility, while contending with the flesh and the fleshly].
Give me understanding and I shall live!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You for Your word, and for the liberty it offers us through grace, as well the counsel of it which rightly directs us. Thank You for the understanding which saves now, and into evermore. Thank You Lord, for that precious quickening so necessary, come of Your Spirit. Hallelujah, and Selah! Lord, enlarge my faith. Amen.
By Bro. McNeal Brockington