"If any one desire to practice His will, he shall know concerning
the doctrine, whether it is of God, or [that] I speak from myself" (John
7:17, J

"If any one desire to
practice His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is of God,
or [that] I speak from myself" (John 7:17, J.N.D. trans.). We learn in
this passage, that honest obedience to God’s will is one way to obtain clear
spiritual knowledge.

 

The difficulty of finding out
what the truth is in religion is a common subject of complaint among men. They
point to many differences which prevail among Christians on matters of doctrine
and profess to be unable to decide who is right. In thousands of cases this
professed inability to find out the truth becomes an excuse for living without
any religion at all.

 

The saying of our Lord before us
is one that demands the serious attention of persons in this state of mind.
It supplies an argument whose edge and point they will find it hard to evade.
It teaches that one secret of getting the key of knowledge is to practice
honestly what we know, and that if we conscientiously use the light we now
have, we shall soon have more light coming into our minds. In short, there is a
sense in which it is true, that by doing we shall come to knowing.

 

There is a mine of truth in this
principle. Well would it be for men if they would act upon it. Instead of
saying as some do, "I must first know everything clearly, and then I will
act," we should say, "I will diligently use such knowledge as I
possess, and believe that in the using, fresh knowledge will be given to
me." How many mysteries this simple plan would solve! How many hard things
would soon become plain if men would honestly live up to their light, and
"follow on to know the Lord" (Hosea 6:3)!

 

It
should never be forgotten that God deals with us as moral beings and not as
beasts or stones. He loves to encourage us to self-exertion and diligent use of
such means as we have in our hands. The plain things in the Word of God are
undeniably very many. Let a man honestly attend to them, and he shall be taught
the deep things of God. Whatever some may say about their inability to find out
truth, you will rarely find one of them who does not know better than he
practices. Then if he is sincere, let him begin here at once. Let him humbly
use what little knowledge he has, and God will soon give him more.