Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening Devotions

Morning, August 4

"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.

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