Praying for Wisdom to Understand Christ's Character
Praying for wisdom to understand Christ's character is rooted in biblical teachings that emphasize the importance of seeking knowledge and understanding of God's will. The apostle Paul prays for the Ephesian believers that they "may have the eyes of [their] heart enlightened" to know Christ's love, which surpasses knowledge [1]. This prayer underscores the significance of spiritual insight into Christ's character.
The Bible encourages believers to seek wisdom and knowledge through prayer. In Proverbs, the pursuit of knowledge is linked to crying out for it and lifting up one's voice for understanding [5]. This pursuit is not merely intellectual but is deeply spiritual, involving a heartfelt desire to know God and Christ. The apostle Paul's prayer for the Colossians reflects this, as he asks that they be "filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" [8].
Understanding Christ's character is closely tied to the concept of union with Him. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, this union is maintained by faith and involves Christ being in believers and believers being in Christ [3]. As believers pray for wisdom, they are seeking a deeper understanding of this union and its implications for their lives.
The pursuit of wisdom and understanding of Christ's character is also associated with humility and diligence. Humility is seen as a characteristic of saints who are regarded by God and enjoy His presence [4]. Diligence in seeking God and obeying Him is required, with Christ being the example of one who was diligent in His service to God [2].
In praying for wisdom to understand Christ's character, believers are encouraged by biblical examples and teachings. Job's friends counseled him to "seek unto God betimes" [6], and the Psalmist expresses awe at God's works, encouraging a global reverence for the Lord [7]. The biblical emphasis is on seeking a deep, spiritual understanding of Christ, which is facilitated through prayer and a diligent pursuit of wisdom.
The biblical basis for praying for wisdom to understand Christ's character is thus well-established, reflecting a broader theme of seeking God and understanding His will. This pursuit is characterized by humility, diligence, and a deepening union with Christ. As believers pray for such wisdom, they are aligning themselves with biblical teachings and examples that underscore the importance of knowing and following Christ.
Sources
- Ephesians “Ephesians 3:19 (Geneva1599) — And to knowe the loue of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled with all fulnesse of God.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Union With Christ — As Head of the Church -- Eph 1:22,23; 4:15,16; Col 1:18. Christ prayed that all saints might have -- Joh 17:21,23. Described as Christ being in us. -- Eph 3:17; Col 1:27. Our being in Christ. -- 2Co 12:2; 1Jo 5:20. Includes union with the Father -- Joh 17:21; 1Jo 2:24. Is of God -- 1Co 1:30. Maintained by Faith. -- Ga 2:20; Eph 3:17. Abiding in him. -- Joh 15:4,7. His word abiding in us. -- Joh 15:7; 1Jo 2:24; 2Jo 1:9. Feeding on him. -- Joh 6:56. Obeying him. -- 1Jo 3:24. The Holy Spirit witnesses -- 1Jo 3:24. The gift of the Holy Spirit is an ev”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility — Necessary to the service of God -- Mic 6:8. Christ an example of -- Mt 11:29; Joh 13:14,15; Php 2:5-8. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 34:2. The who have Regarded by God. -- Ps 138:6; Isa 66:2. Heard by God. -- Ps 9:12; Isa 10:17. Enjoy the presence of God. -- Isa 57:15. Delivered by God. -- Job 22:29. Lifted up by God. -- Jas 4:10. Exalted by God. -- Lu 14:11; 18:14. Are greatest in Christ's kingdom. -- Mt 18:4; 20:26-28. Receive more grace. -- Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6. Upheld by honour. -- Pr 18:12; 29:23. Is before honour -- Pr 15:33. Leads to riches, honour, ”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 2:3: Yea, if thou criest after knowledge,.... Of God, Christ, and the Gospel; not only bow the ear and bend the mind to these things, but importunately and fervently pray for them; not only attend the ministry of the word by men, but cry to God to give the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of divine and spiritual things; which supposes some sense of a want of it, an hearty desire for it, having some apprehension of the worth and value of it; and that it is to be had, as there is indeed great reason to hope for and expect it, Jam 1:5; and liftest up thy vo”
- Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 8:5: seek unto God betimes--early. Make it the first and chief anxiety (Psa 78:34; Hos 5:15; Isa 26:9; Pro 8:17; Pro 13:24).”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 65:8: 65:8 All over the world (Job 38:13; see Ps 50:1-3), people should stand in awe of the Lord.”
- Colossians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Colossians 1:9: The apostle proceeds in these verses to pray for them. He heard that they were good, and he prayed that they might be better. He was constant in this prayer: We do not cease to pray for you. It may be he could hear of them but seldom, but he constantly prayed for them. - And desire that you may be filled with the knowledge, etc. Observe what it is that he begs of God for them, I. That they might be knowing intelligent Christians: filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Observe, 1. The knowledge of our duty is the best k”