The Pursuit of Knowledge - Head

As I began to wrestle with discerning between knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, it became abundantly clear that they are indeed fundamentally different in their source, purpose, and outcome.

After spending some time in prayer and looking at God’s Word, a moment of clarity occurred that hopefully will be helpful as we explore these ideas independently.

The first point of clarification came around the concept of knowledge, which summarized in one word is “head.” This manifests itself as we often begin different journeys in life and we are learning what it is we need to do for a given skill. For instance, at one point in my life, I worked on race cars. I didn’t grow up around them, so when I entered this world, I began reading and consuming everything I could to learn the ins and outs of what it takes to make a car go fast.

As my knowledge of the craft began to increase so did my confidence in the decisions I found myself making on the car. Shifting the same framework to being a disciple of Christ immediately made me think about how memorizing scripture is so key for spiritual growth. On the surface, taking the time to cement a verse to memory could appear childish. You may be thinking about how you memorized certain facts for tests in school only to flush them from your memory after the class finished.

However, from a disciple standpoint, acquiring knowledge from God’s Word is a staple in the sanctification process. It appears that getting His instruction into our heads is a must-do as we pursue after Him daily. What I found helpful was how I viewed that process entirely. When I stopped looking at it as an academic exercise and instead recognized it as a way of planting seeds of truth, things began to change.

Suddenly, trying to memorize verses shifted from laborious work to meaningfully equipping myself to navigate the challenges of life with clarity and purpose. This wasn’t like memorizing something for English class; this was closer to reading poetry and memorizing poetry and then watching that poetry inform how I lived, how I behaved, and how I loved. The trick wasn’t memorization, memorization was the key to reflection and implementation. It was through this process that I found discernment in what is true in a crazy world filled with conflicting messages.

As we finish pondering the concept of knowledge, remember that it is only the beginning. While it equips us with truth, it’s understanding and wisdom that allows us to apply that truth rightly. Knowledge tells us what God’s Word says (Head). Understanding shows us what it means. Wisdom shows us how to live it out. As we continue this journey, we’ll explore how understanding and wisdom deepen this foundation, creating a life that glorifies God and equips us to live boldly for Him.

Questions to Consider

1. What is one verse of Scripture you’ve memorized that has shaped how you approach life’s challenges?
2. What intentional steps can you take this week to plant more seeds of truth in your heart and mind?