Our Bible verse for today: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10 (CSB)
Our thought for today: “Knowing God as He really is changes us.”
Tomorrow we will begin exploring some of the most important attributes of God. We will then begin to see how it is that gaining a better understanding of Him has a direct impact on the quality of our lives. But before we get to that, I want to spend one more day thinking about why it’s so important for us to think rightly about God.
In Proverbs 9:10 Solomon says that right thinking about God is the beginning of true wisdom, and gaining knowledge about Him is the beginning of true understanding. Why is that so important? A.W. Tozer offers this thought: “We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God.”
This is what I was talking about in yesterday’s devotional with respect to having a high or low view of God. Having a high view of God helps to keep us in awe of His majesty, and it helps us to maintain a sense of reverence in His presence. That impacts our thinking and our conduct. A low view of God leads us to be casual in our thinking about Him, and it also leads us to minimize and rationalize sinful conduct.
The person who achieves right thinking about God is relieved of a thousand earthly problems, because right thinking leads to right conduct. This is the reason we must elevate our understanding of who God is and what He is like. We must also then teach that higher view of God to others – especially to the younger generations. The greatest service we can do for our children and grandchildren is to pass on to them a high view of God.
The fear (awe and reverence) of God is the beginning of true wisdom. Accurate knowledge of who He is and what He is like is the beginning of true understanding. Right thinking leads to right conduct.
Seek God this morning. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see Him high and mighty, exalted and honored, magnified and supreme. Then spend some time worshiping Him.
Oak Hill Baptist Church