Everything that I understand, I understand only because I love.
Count Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910, Russian novelist, philosopher)
Psalm 91:14-16 (HCSB)
Because he is lovingly devoted to Me, I will deliver him; I will exalt him because he knows My name. When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor. I will satisfy him with a long life and show him My salvation.
“Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand,” said the theologian St. Augustine. We see here a backwards approach to research practices. Most believe to understand something that you are to approach it without any presuppositions, but in getting to know our God we find the opposite, you must first believe, and then you will understand.
Everyone has a “favorite” subject which they may know more about and probably like to share that subject with others. I met someone this past week that loved to talk about photography, and loved to share it, and I learned many useful things from him which he told me without asking. You see, he had a great interest and he was “devoted” to that subject and he wanted to share his devotion.
If we applied that same effort to knowing and understanding our God, we wouldn’t find it hard to share. We would be so lovingly devoted to Him that we would want to share with everyone we met, the things that He does for us. Now that’s devotion. We couldn’t be around someone else without sharing with them the benefits of knowing His Name. Love Him, and Understand Him…God Bless.
Pastor William
Count Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910, Russian novelist, philosopher)
Psalm 91:14-16 (HCSB)
Because he is lovingly devoted to Me, I will deliver him; I will exalt him because he knows My name. When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor. I will satisfy him with a long life and show him My salvation.
“Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand,” said the theologian St. Augustine. We see here a backwards approach to research practices. Most believe to understand something that you are to approach it without any presuppositions, but in getting to know our God we find the opposite, you must first believe, and then you will understand.
Everyone has a “favorite” subject which they may know more about and probably like to share that subject with others. I met someone this past week that loved to talk about photography, and loved to share it, and I learned many useful things from him which he told me without asking. You see, he had a great interest and he was “devoted” to that subject and he wanted to share his devotion.
If we applied that same effort to knowing and understanding our God, we wouldn’t find it hard to share. We would be so lovingly devoted to Him that we would want to share with everyone we met, the things that He does for us. Now that’s devotion. We couldn’t be around someone else without sharing with them the benefits of knowing His Name. Love Him, and Understand Him…God Bless.
Pastor William
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