2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
When he got to v 3 Knowing this…. I was reminded of something that happened to me a long time ago.
We were living in Memphis, TN while I attended Bible College. I heard about a church that was having a special speaker for the week. This was a Spirit-filled church and I was interested. I don’t remember the name of the church (only that it was out by the airport) or the speaker. It was a small church and he most likely was not a ‘big name’. But that brother said something that night that had a tremendous impact on my life.
His message was from James 1:2-4. And when he got to v 3 he said, “ Knowing this… Brothers and sisters, there are things God wants you to know. You should go through your Bible and find out what God says he wants you to know.”
I went home and shortly after that I took my Bible, some paper, and a pen and went through the New Testament to find out what God wanted me to know. Starting with Matthew, I wrote down every single verse which contained words related to know – know, knowledge, understand etc. That brother was right: there are things God wants you to know. And some of the things specifically linked to the word know are surprising —things that church people have traditionally told us we cannot know. Yet God wants us to know them!!
What a life-changing Bible study! Every church I pastored I encouraged the brethren to do this study. I emphasized the things God wanted us to know, but also urged folks to study it out themselves. I took the challenge that brother issued many years ago and it transformed me. As far as I know, I was completely unsuccessful in getting anyone else to accept the challenge. That always saddened me. But I challenge you: Go through the New Testament and make a note of every time the word “know” (and its’ relatives) occurs. You will be surprised at what God wants you to know!
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