Knowledge

Series: Receive a Gift

1 Corinthians 12:8b

I’m old.

I can officially say that.

I don’t grieve when I say that. Instead I rejoice.

1 Corinthians 12:8b tells us God gives “the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit”.

The last section of 1 Corinthians 12:8 reminds us it is the Spirit of God who gives us the real utterance of knowledge. That’s because real knowledge comes to us from God. Men/women may have some measure of knowing and knowledge from studying, gaining understanding, meditating, and practicing knowledge, but real knowledge that is eternal comes from God.

When I was young I thought I knew a few things but now I can see that kind of knowledge was  temporary.

It’s a silly example, but I knew how to take care of a dog. We’ve always had a dog (or dogs) in our house. We did not have cats or hamsters because I am allergic to cats and hamsters. Well, years and years ago we had a cat but it lived outside.

Most of the dogs we had are poodles or some form of poodles because they don’t shed and I’m not allergic to them. My current ole pup is a schnoodle.

Because I’ve had many dogs I know how to take care of a dog.

Even though I knew how to take care of a dog I wasn’t always so adept at listening to dogs. Dogs do have something to say.

My ole schnoodle comes and stares at me and puts his paw on my leg in a certain way when he needs to go outside.

When it’s time to eat he stands by his bowl and stares at me. IF I don’t notice he whines until I get up.

Recently when I visited a large chocolate lab he came up to me and with his puppy dog eyes he told me he wanted me to pet him. He stayed with me for a long time soaking it in.

Dogs talk.

They know. They know who likes them and who doesn’t. My Mother was in the room with the chocolate lab the day he came to me but he didn’t go to her.

He knew who loved him.

In many ways I wish humans were as smart as dogs or other animals. Plus, according to a -z animals.com the ten smartest animals in the world are Orangutan, Bottlenose Dolphins, Chimpanzees, Elephant, African Gray Parrot, Octopus, Pig, Crow, Pigeon, and Rat.

Dogs, Orcas, and Raccoons were on the honorable mention list.

My question is…where does man rank? Man has verbal and problem solving skills that animals don’t have but each animal on the top ten list has skills man does not have.

The point is in the big scheme of things man really knows very little.

Only creator God knows and according to the Apostle Paul (who was a serious genius) God gives man/woman utterance of knowledge.

This knowledge…this utterance of knowledge comes from God.

That means we don’t have to be a genius to possess it. We possess it by turning to God and letting God speak to us.

We listen.

That’s where the ‘rubber hits the road’. In order to hear we need to still our mind and open our heart.

I spent years studying and learning how to still my mind and I consider myself a novice. In all my reading and studying I found there was always much more I had to learn.

As with anything it begins at the beginning.

Go to a very quiet place.

Close your eyes.

Connect to God.

Do not try to think…just listen and feel God.

As you practice feel God’s love.

It’s really quite simple but it’s really quite difficult.

Be blessed as you connect with God.

Deborah

acrazyjourney.com