Dec 16th, 2021: Knowledge, Revelation and Truth
"Practice Makes Perfect" is an expression we have heard often. It often means that regular exercise of an activity or skill is our way to become proficient in it. The keyword here is proficiency and not perfection. So what will make up the difference because we can be imperfectly proficient? Let us consider the wise men in the account of Jesus' birth.
They used their knowledge to ask the right question: "Where is he who is born King of the Jews?" They just didn't have the discernment to ask the right person. We don't use our knowledge to control our life's circumstances. We should use our knowledge to ask questions about the mystery of God. Knowledge and prayer need to go together.
Knowledge and truth don't always co-exist. King Herod used his knowledge of the whereabouts of the King of the Jews for his own selfish and fearful mandate. Deception took over as he tried to deceive the wise men about his true intention. He said to them: "Go and search diligently for the young child, and when you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him." He has no such desire.
Knowledge and faith will help us understand the events of our life more deeply. The wise men left King Herod and followed the star from the East in search of the newborn King. They did not have an easy journey, but they finally found Jesus in Bethlehem. They fell down and worshipped Him. They also offered the new King gifts. After that, they were warned about King Herod's evil intention, so they decided to return with a different route. God sometimes reveals to us His truth in the realm of our subconsciousness.
Please refer to Matthew 2: 1-12 for biblical account.