UNDERSTANDING

UNDERSTANDING

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:21

What is understanding? (Exod. 31:3) It comes from two words put together. It is a grammatical construct. The two words are under and stand. To "stand under" means to submit to another Person's mind, which we have the mind of Christ; you stand under their mind. You use their thoughts, lose your own opinion and take on theirs. Therefore you become one with another. It is a form of communion. To understand is also translated communion. Communion is also a grammatical construction of two words, common and union. The word common means same, union means one. Common union therefore means to become one with another person. That is God's number one goal, communion with us. He wants to commune with us. That has been His cry from the beginning, to tabernacle with the people of God. Jesus prayer was to the Father to make us one (John 17:21). The prayer for unity is repeated five times (John 17:11, 21-23)  (Eph. 4:4, 13). To understand therefore means that we are to catch the intent of another person, not just their words. You can't understand a Person until that happens. You then become their friend (John 15:15). God's intention is found in the constitution. The all consuming purpose and intent of God in creation was to establish a Kingdom on the earth, in which He could display His glory in the Person of His Son. This display of His glory was to be made to creatures made in His image, and therefore, capable of apprehending, appreciating, and applauding His glory. The unfolding drama of the Bible depicts the movements of God in the accomplishment of that purpose.

“And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.” Exod. 31:3