Personal Life: The Knowledge of God

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.—Hebrews 5:12

Probably the most widespread and persistent problem to be found among Christians is the problem of retarded spiritual progress. Why, after years of Christian profession, do so many persons find themselves no farther along than when they first believed?...

The causes of retarded growth are many. It would not be accurate to ascribe the trouble to one single fault. One there is, however, which is so universal that it may easily be the main cause: failure to give time to the cultivation of the knowledge of God....

The Christian is strong or weak depending upon how closely he has cultivated the knowledge of God....

Progress in the Christian life is exactly equal to the growing knowledge we gain of the Triune God in personal experience. And such experience requires a whole life devoted to it and plenty of time spent at the holy task of cultivating God. God can be known satisfactorily only as we devote time to Him. The Root of the Righteous, 7-9.

"Lord, I'd like to devote the remaining years of my life and ministry to the 'holy task of cultivating God.' Help me to know You first, and then out of the overflow of that growing knowledge can come whatever ministry You choose to bless me with. Amen."