Having the understanding darkened will alienate us from the life of God. Throughout the Word of God, we find it is those who understand who wait. It is when we understand the word of the Kingdom that it will grow in us. Thus, understanding becomes a mark of a son or daughter of the Kingdom. If we pursue understanding in His Kingdom we will walk in God's light, His enabling grace and His abiding power.

Ephesians 4:17,18—This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.
(MSG) And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They've refused for so long to deal with God that they've lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can't think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion.

The nations were blinded by the spirits of false gods for whom they made idols, which they proceeded to worship. Such was their condition before they were blessed with the light of the Gospel which first came to them through the ministry of the Apostle Paul. Such is the state of those peoples who have not yet received the Word of the Gospel; and such is the state of multitudes of those who refuse to receive the Gospel. Even to this day there are many who endeavor to decry it, and to take refuge in the falsities of infidelity against the testimony of eternal truth.

But we have not so learned Christ. We have received the Truth of the Gospel which has proved to be the Light that gives us the way of safety through the darkness of sin and all kinds of difficulty. Indeed, we have received the Spirit of Christ, and therefore are saved from the character that lead to hopelessness.

We must abandon the ways of darkness and live a life totally opposite to what it was before. This would be a life governed by the Laws of the Kingdom of the Heavens.

Acts 17:30—And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
(MSG) 30-31 "God overlooks it as long as you don't know any better—but that time is past. The unknown is now known, and he's calling for a radical life-change. He has set a day when the entire human race will be judged and everything set right. And he has already appointed the judge, confirming him before everyone by raising him from the dead."

 

FATHER, there’s been a lot of vanity and pride in me. My mind has been puffed up with vain thoughts. Please set me free from the foolish way of thinking that has ruled me. With utmost humility, I bow before You and present to You my darkened understanding. Heal my ignorance. Remove my blindness. Purge my conscience.

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