“The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.”—Proverbs 15:14 NKJV

The Bible focuses much attention on our motives. Not just what we do but why we do it. We demonstrate these motives each day by the things we do. The Bible tells us some people have a genuine desire to understand. They probe the deeper meaning and seek to grow in their faith. They demonstrate this commitment by craving knowledge. A companion verse (Proverbs 14:8 NASB) says, “The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way, but the foolishness of fools is deceit.” Many in the world demonstrate the proof of this verse. These people fundamentally are not interested in knowledge or understanding, but feed on foolishness and gossip. They spend time chasing after speculation, things that really don’t matter. They aren’t interested in whether something is beneficial, profitable, or even true. The Bible urges us not to become like these fools. Instead, focus on seeking God. Crave His understanding. Seek to grow in our understanding and knowledge. Care for others and want to do things that encourage others. These are characteristics in keeping with people who genuinely love God and desire to know more about the world He has made. They seek first His Kingdom and seek to be good stewards of the resources they have been given. They aren’t obsessed with silliness or trivial interests but genuinely seek to fulfill their God-given potential and be good witnesses for Him.

Reflection Question: How are you seeking knowledge and understanding?

“The people of Israel shall pitch their tents by their companies, each man in his own camp and each man by his own standard … Thus did the people of Israel; they did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.”—Numbers 1:52–54 ESV

As he studied the campaigns of Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte found a major factor that contributed to his success: how the camps of his army were organized. Napoleon had followed a tradition established years earlier. The Romans had learned the best way to organize camps, so they were prepared for any circumstance. They could go on the offensive or remain in a defensive posture. For hundreds of years, this preparation consistently led to protection and victory. In similar ways, God provided the Israelites with specific instructions about how to set up their camps. Each tribe had a specific role, and everyone had an important assignment. When they followed God’s plans, they were successful and safe from attack. Today is the day each year when we celebrate Flag Day. It is a time to remember how God prepares us for battle and to remember that He has prepared strategies that can give us victory. We can be ready. You will be assaulted by the enemy. You can be vulnerable if you are not ready! You need the same kind of preparation that characterized those camps of Caesar and ancient Israel: organized, alert, and ready. If you want to be ready for the battles you will face, surrender your life to Jesus and seek the power of the Holy Spirit. Trust Him to organize your resources and give you winning strategies.

Reflection Question: How are you preparing for your spiritual battles?