KNOWLEDGE OF GOD (2)

“That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and INCREASING in the KNOWLEDGE of GOD” – Colossians 1:10

Believers in Christ are not only to pursue and possess, but also INCREASE in the KNOWLEDGE of GOD: “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the KNOWLEDGE of HIS WILL in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and INCREASING in the KNOWLEDGE of GOD” (Col.1: 9-10). These prayers of Paul, the apostle, for the believers at Colosse focused on wisdom, strength, spiritual maturity, and thanksgiving for what God has done. Paul in verses 1-8 poured out his affection for the church and thanked God. In verses 9-14, he continued on other themes. Two key aspects of the prayer focused on Knowledge of God’s Will and Increase or Growth in Knowledge.

What we know and believe about God changes the way we think about ourselves, others, and the world we live in. Just like our relationship with other people, our knowledge of God is not static. It grows as we relate with Him better. Paul prayed that the Believers may be filled with not just knowledge, but the Knowledge of God’s Will. Jesus had taught His disciples to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and other blessings will be added to them (Mt. 6:33). He also taught us to pray: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Mt. 6:10). Paul now prayed for growth in the knowledge of God’s Will. This relational knowledge comes from personal experience of God. Without a living relationship with Jesus, no one can experience true knowledge of God.

In essence, Paul prayed that the Believers may personally know God and His Will for their lives. The knowledge of God’s Will: establishes us in faith; guides us against false teaching; fuels holiness; and gives us wisdom and understanding. It is humbling to realise that we can know God only because He has made Himself known to us: through His Word and ultimately through the Lord Jesus. Elsewhere, Paul prayed a similar prayer that we would learn about God through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. His deepest desire was that we “may know Him better” (Eph.1:17-18). All knowledge, starts with God at the centre. Knowing God is true knowledge!

Knowing God brings out the relevance in other forms of knowledge, be it mathematics or music. Knowing God and loving Him helps us learn to enjoy the world around us more. Paul’s prayer serves as a timeless reminder that our pursuit of knowledge should not be confined to intellectual pursuits alone. It is through the knowledge of God’s Will and of His Person that we can walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.