The apostle Paul describes men and women in their natural state as being "without Christ" and "without understanding". Knowledge is essential to understanding, but many have knowledge without having understanding. Understanding goes farther than knowledge. Understanding involves comprehension although it is not full comprehension. Paul prayed for those to whom he wrote that their "understanding be enlightened." While none understand as they ought to, this understanding has to do with seeing spiritual things. Seeing things in some measure as they really are in the light of who God is in His true character, what we are in our sinful condition and how it is that He shows mercy and grace to sinners and remains both "just and the Justifier." It is an understanding that none have naturally. God alone can give it, and He does give it to His people. "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." (1 John 5:20) God reveals Himself to us through His Word and Spirit so that we "know" Him! He gives sufficient revelation of Himself through the Gospel so as to distinguish Him from all false gods. We know Him experientially by faith through the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not know everything! We don't know even the half of what could be known about God. But God has given us His Gospel and revealed Hirnself to us through that Gospel and by His grace we do have some understanding. May our understanding grow! Paul wrote to Timothy saying, "The Lord giveth thee understanding." Some may understand more than others, but all understanding that God gives is true. Our relationship and affection for Christ is not to be one of ignorant emotion. We are "to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding." Let us read the scriptures and hear the scriptures taught and preached. May it be to us as it was with those disciples in Luke 24 when Christ "opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." When Phillip saw the Ethiopian eunuch reading from Isaiah 53, he asked him if he understood what he was reading. The eunuch responded, "How can I unless some man should guide me?" God is pleased to give understanding to His people through their being taught the Gospel by the messengers He sends. True understanding also involves a love for that which is received and results in a comfort and confidence derived from that which is understood. "But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgement, and righteousness' in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD." (Jer. 9:24)