“Spiritual Understanding”

Colossians 1:9-14

9) For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11) Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

12) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

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he fact that the Word of God speaks specifically of the spiritual, also means that there is a natural to be considered. Anything spoken of as being “human” refers to the natural, while that spoken of as “spiritual” refers to God.

This distinction is hard for Man to grasp, for the first law of nature is self-preservation. Therefore, it is “natural” that Man would be very “preoccupied” with all that concerns him. What is missed about this concept is that in order to preserve himself, man would have to be God. Man is not capable of preserving himself, for after all, we are formed from the dust of the ground.

Human “instinct” (that of self-protection and self-preservation) teaches us to think naturally. This means that we process all that concerns us according to what effect it will have on us. Understandably, this suggests that it is nigh unto impossible of us to accept the direction of God. As if this were not bad enough, when we feel threatened, we tend to forget about God. Why? Because we revert to operating by our first nature—that of sinful man. It is this nature which causes Man to desire to please himself and it is this nature that necessitates that we be born again.

Many (both saved and unsaved) live their lives believing that if they just do their “best,” the Lord will find that sufficient for them to make it to heaven. Obviously, this means that we are “short-sighted,” so, what is our recourse? We have no choice but to rely on what the Lord has already done.

Today, one who relies totally upon the Lord is not only hard to find, but regarded as somewhat of a “relic,” as well. When compared with the modern “revolutions” of technology, reason, logic and humanism, the simplicity of God is viewed by some as “incompleteness.” This can only happen as one regards the things of the Lord with the natural mind.

A classic example of this which will live through time is the story of Abraham and Sarah. When Sarah regarded the intervention of God as “inconceivable,” she decided that to ensure that it was done “properly,” she would “help” Him. This, too because our problem. We can be given a vision by God, Himself, yet resort to imposing our own standards and stipulations upon when and how it gets done. Seeing that the “idea” is His, it seems that we would understand that He needs to help but for us to do the job assigned to us.

The devil has done a thorough job of convincing us that our way is the “easy” way. The “fleshlier” you are, the “truer” this will appear to be. We “handle” things ourselves for a variety of reason. Frequently, the excuse is to let others know where we “stand,” which is pointless in that all that does is cause strife, which leads to spiritual upheaval and unrest. What we must always remember is that in the same way that all of God’s efforts have a “point.” So must ours. For all of the excuses that we may offer, God has an example that invalidates them.

What has become a modern “by-word,” is nevertheless, a valid consideration for the saint of God. “What would Jesus do?” is of the utmost importance in the life of the saint of God. Why? Because if we neither know nor understand what He did nor why, how can we ever live a victorious life in Him?

One of the reasons that this is so important is because if we intend to make it into the kingdom, our reaction to whatever we encounter must be spiritual. So, you see that it is a matter of life and death for us to become “acquainted” with the One Whom we follow.

Rather than always seeking “vindication,” why not seek God for “spiritual understanding?” You see, in all that the Lord allows, He has a lesson first, for the recipient of the test. Therefore, it would seem only “spiritual” to ask Him what He is trying to teach us.

Only by beginning to look beyond ourselves will we ever begin to walk “worthy” of Him. Doing this means that we will show Him that we appreciate all of the help that He attempts to give us. One has to say “attempt,” because all too often, He does not succeed because we will not allow Him to.

The saint of God cannot now and never could afford to operate by how or what the flesh feels. This is why the emphasis of the saved life is focused upon submitting the flesh to the Spirit. You see, the character of God mandates that we operate by direction, rather than feelings. The direction of God is what allows us peace in the midst in the storm. The direction of God is that which affords us protection in a wicked world. The direction of God is that which keeps us from “common” errors, directing glory to God of our salvation. The direction of God is what will separate the “saved” from those who are merely “Christian.” n