Proverbs 19:8

Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;
he who keeps understanding will discover good.

Do you love yourself? Do you want what is good for you? Then pursue wisdom! Seek commonsense. Value understanding and discernment. Get knowledge. For it is through attaining good sense – the skill to discern what is right and true and good – that you will discover and enjoy the good in life.

How do you get sense? You pray for it; you study God’s Word; and you observe. You observe what God reveals through natural revelation. You study the knowledge he gives to anyone through his common grace. You learn from the experiences – all the experiences – he takes you through.

More importantly, you study the knowledge God’s Spirit gives through his special grace of revealing the Gospel. It is through the Gospel that you may now look at everything else. Explore redemption; explore what salvation entails; explore what it means to be adopted in Christ, to be sealed by the Holy Spirit; explore justification and sanctification. As you dig deeper into Gospel truth; as you delve into the holy attributes of the God who made you and saved you; as you seek such wondrous knowledge, so you will you grown in good sense and understanding.

And then keep understanding as you would keep any treasure you may possess. You hold on to it, take pleasure in it, work to protect it and add to it. For the more understanding you have and the greater care you take to keep it, the more useful it becomes in leading you to discover good. Indeed, the more useful it becomes in leading you to the One alone who is Good.

© 2024 Tenth Presbyterian Church.

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Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By D. Marion Clark. © 2024 Tenth Presbyterian Church. Website: tenth.org