Spurgeon: August AM
* 08/04/AM
"The people that do know their God shall be strong."
--Daniel 11:32
Every believer understands that to know God is the highest
and best form of knowledge; and this spiritual knowledge is a
source of strength to the Christian. It strengthens his faith .
Believers are constantly spoken of in the Scriptures as being
persons who are enlightened and taught of the Lord; they are
said to "have an unction from the Holy One," and it is the
Spirit's peculiar office to lead them into all truth, and all
this for the increase and the fostering of their faith.
Knowledge strengthens love , as well as faith. Knowledge opens
the door, and then through that door we see our Saviour. Or, to
use another similitude, knowledge paints the portrait of Jesus,
and when we see that portrait then we love Him, we cannot love a
Christ whom we do not know, at least, in some degree. If we know
but little of the excellences of Jesus, what He has done for us,
and what He is doing now, we cannot love Him much; but the more
we know Him, the more we shall love Him. Knowledge also
strengthens hope . How can we hope for a thing if we do not
know of its existence? Hope may be the telescope, but till we
receive instruction, our ignorance stands in the front of the
glass, and we can see nothing whatever; knowledge removes the
interposing object, and when we look through the bright optic
glass we discern the glory to be revealed, and anticipate it
with joyous confidence. Knowledge supplies us reasons for
patience . How shall we have patience unless we know something
of the sympathy of Christ, and understand the good which is to
come out of the correction which our heavenly Father sends us?
Nor is there one single grace of the Christian which, under God,
will not be fostered and brought to perfection by holy
knowledge. How important, then, is it that we should grow not
only in grace, but in the "knowledge" of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ.