Lack Of Knowledge

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
    because you have rejected knowledge,
    I reject you from being a priest to me.
And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
    I also will forget your children.
Hosea 4:6

There’s No Excuse For Not Knowing

We are blessed to have the written Word of God.  It is available in 670 languages and in hundreds of versions.  For even better conveniences the Bible is available to be listened to as well.  What this means is there is no excuse for anyone not to be able to read and understand the Word of God.  There are countless collections of commentaries and resources to help us understand the meaning of Scripture. The need for knowing doctrine is important.  Knowledge of doctrine is what shapes our spiritual lives for Christian living.

More than anything the priests lacked a heart-knowledge more than a head-knowledge of God’s Word.  There were many who knew the Word of God and most would memorize the Old Testament.  The Pharisees and Scribes knew the Word of God forward and backward, but still lacked a heart-knowledge of it.  A person could have knowledge about God but still not know Him personally.  This is a dangerous thing.

Jesus said in Matthew 9:13, “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”  Jesus was referencing to Hosea 6:6.  What Jesus was saying was they knew the technicalities of doctrine, but were missing it in their heart.  You can go through traditions and rituals but if you’re not moved in your spirit something is wrong.  A great example of this is with the “Lord’s Supper”.  If you are not spiritually moved by observing this ordinance then your heart is not right.

Prayer

Ask God to break your heart for the things that breaks His.