saying and doing the right thing, at the right time, in the right way.

"_Filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual
understanding._" This means for its complete realisation constant touch
with that Book which presents the clearly expressed will of God. The will
of God is in that Word, and when the Word is illuminated by the Spirit of
God we come to know His will concerning us. No one will ever have the full
knowledge of that will, no one can possibly be mature in experience, if
the Word of God is not his daily, definite, direct study and meditation.
It purifies the perception of the faculties by its cleansing power; it
illuminates the moral faculties with its enlightening power; it controls
the emotional faculties with its protective power; it energises the
volitional faculties with its stimulating power; and thus in the constant,
continuous use of the Word of God in personal practice, with meditation
and prayer, we shall become "filled with the full knowledge of His will in
all wisdom and spiritual understanding."

3. THE PURPOSE OF THE PRAYER.

Knowledge is not an end in itself, but the means to an end; and so the
Apostle states the purpose for which he asks this knowledge of God's will:
"_That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all-pleasing ... fruitful ...
increasing ... strengthened ... giving thanks_."

Their life is to be influenced by this knowledge--"_walk worthy of the
Lord_." Knowledge is to be translated into practice. "Walking" is the
characteristic Bible word descriptive of the character of the Christian
life, the full expression of all our powers. As it presupposes life, so it
means energy, movement, progress; and for this, knowledge is essential.
How can we walk unless we know why and whither we go? The knowledge of
God's will gives point and purpose to the activities of life.

"_Walk worthy of the Lord._" What a profound and searching thought is
here--"Worthy of the Lord." Surely this is impossible; yet these are the
plain words of the inspired writer. To walk worthy of the Lord--it is
almost incredible, and yet this is one of the possibilities and glories of
grace. The Apostle is fond of the word "worthy." We are to walk worthy of
our vocation (Eph. iv. 1), worthy of the Gospel (Phil. i. 27), worthy of
the saints (Rom. xvi. 2), worthy of God (1 Thess. ii. 12). We may be
perfectly sure that Paul would not put such an ideal before us if it could
not be realised. God's comm