"Be Filled With The Knowledge Of His Will"
Do you remember the dreaded pop quizzes the teachers would pull on us? Remember on test day just how frightened you were because you did not know if you knew enough information to pass the test? Do you remember how you got over that (if you ever did)? You prepared and studied. Can you imagine the agony if someone dug up an old manuscript that said that God would have an entrance exam for everyone to see who was qualified to go to heaven?
Most people feel unprepared to answer even simple questions today. Few if any could tell you where in the Bible you find certain events or characters. There are quite a few people who have been going to church most of their lives, but still cannot explain God's plan of salvation if anyone was to ask. That is part of the problem that is facing to church today. It is the lack of knowledge that will cause so many to miss heaven.
The truth of the matter is that those who have studied and tried to put as much knowledge into their brain look forward to the challenge of bible quizzes and honest questions by those seeking information.
This was the desire of the apostle Paul when he wrote in Colossians 1:9: "For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding".
The command and desire is "to be filled". The actual meaning of this is "to be completely filled with the knowledge of God's will". In other words, knowing everything that you can possibly learn about God's will and what He has commanded us. We all understand what it means to fill something. When you fill your gas tank the gauge should read full. When we have a halloween bag with only a few pieces of candy, it is not full. So, the phrase filled should mean completely filled.
Translating all of that vast knowledge into daily living is the challenge for everyone. Yet if we do not apply what God teaches us, what do we gain or benefit? Nothing! Until we start living the way God informs us through His will, we do not demonstrate that we know anything about God. We cannot be His light for others; we cannot be His example for others; and we cannot be the guide into spiritual mature living that others need to see.
There are several advantages to knowing God's will. First is the fact that we recognize the existence of God. When we try to learn about His will, it shows that we are willing to submit to this God in humility and obedience. We learn that God has spoken through Jesus and that Jesus has the authority to command us what needs to be done.
Second, we learn what God wants from us. God wants to be worshipped in spirit and truth. We do this when we pay attention to the commandments of instruction from Christ or His designated apostles; follow the examples of the early church that guided the Christians of their day (with help from the Holy Spirit of God); and we use our human brains to reason and make intelligent implications of those things.
Third, we become the kind of people that God wants us to be. He wants us to be the very best citizens, neighbors, co-workers, parents, children, and church members that have ever existed. Our goal should be to be the best in all of these. It is possible if we follow the precepts of God's will. When we serve God His way, we teach others the true way to living in this life and how we will live in the life to come.
By Carey Scott

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