Wisdom and Understanding 智慧和理解

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Dexu Xia

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Jul 7, 2022, 2:01:10 AM7/7/22

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For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6

In 1373, when Julian of Norwich was thirty years old, she became ill and nearly died. When her minister prayed with her, she experienced a number of visions in which she considered Jesus’ crucifixion. After miraculously recovering her health, she spent the next twenty years living in solitude in a side room of the church, praying over and thinking through the experience. She concluded that “love was his meaning”; that is, that Christ’s sacrifice is the supreme manifestation of God’s love.

Julian’s revelations are famous, but what people often overlook is the time and effort she spent prayerfully working out what God revealed to her. In those two decades, she sought to discern what this experience of His presence meant as she asked Him for His wisdom and help.

As He did with Julian, God graciously reveals Himself to His people, such as through the words of the Bible; through His still, small voice; through a refrain of a hymn; or even just an awareness of His presence. When this happens, we can seek His wisdom and help. This wisdom is what King Solomon instructed his son to pursue, saying he should turn his ear to wisdom and apply his heart to understanding (Proverbs 2:2). Then he would “find the knowledge of God” (v. 5).

God promises to give us discernment and understanding. As we grow in a deeper knowledge of

How does God reveal Himself to you most often? When He does, how do you come to understand what He’s revealed?

Gracious God, help me to grow in Your wisdom and keep me far away from being fooled.

在公元1373年，英国诺里奇市的朱利安年约30岁，她患上重病，濒临死亡。当她的牧者与她一同祷告时，她看到了几个异象，她认为这些异象都是关于耶稣的受难。在她奇迹似地病得痊愈之后，她就独居在教堂的一间边房长达二十年，为这个经历持续祷告，思索其中的含意。最后她的结论是,“爱就是上帝的意思”，也就是说，基督流血舍命是上帝的爱至高的展现。

朱利安的启示广为人知，但人们经常会忽略，她为了明白上帝给的启示所付出的时间与努力。在那二十年当中，她迫切寻求上帝的智慧与帮助，好让她能明白这段上帝同在的经历有何意义。

正如上帝启示朱利安一样，上帝也藉着不同方式向祂的子民启示祂自己，例如藉着圣经的话语；藉着祂微小的声音；藉着萦绕心头的诗歌；甚或只是察觉祂的同在。当我们领受上帝的启示，我们可以寻求祂的智慧与帮助。所罗门王教导他的儿子要追寻这样的智慧，说他应该侧耳聆听智慧，专心寻求聪明（箴言2章2节），然后就“得以认识上帝”（5节）。

上帝应许赐予我们分辨与理解的能力。当我们更明白上帝的特质与行事方式时，便能更尊崇祂并更认识祂。

上帝经常如何向你启示祂自己？
当你领受启示时，你如何领悟到祂所要启示的是什么？