4.27.2026 - Gladys DeBruyne

Christ - Submitted to the Father (Self-Control)

Monday, April 27, 2026

My name is Gladys DeBruyne. I am a member of the River Church along with my husband who is the pastor of visitation. I am a retired educator, having worked over 25 years, primarily in kindergarten and first grade. We are natives of West Michigan living there for 35 years before we moved to California in 1991. We have two grown children, 5 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Definition of knowledge

What is knowledge? We see the root word “know” in the word knowledge. Knowledge is the act of knowing. As we explore the knowledge of God this week, we start at the beginning. What does our verse say today in beginning to know God. It says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

The word “Fear” here is not what we usually think of fear. This fear here is not to be frightened of, but to be in awe of, to reverence God. That is where we begin. Fearing God is to be open to His wisdom and instruction, understanding His sovereignty in this world and in ourselves.

Much of humanity fools themselves into thinking there is no need for the knowledge of God, even taking it to the extreme of believing there is no God - if we have these viewpoints, we are on our own. If we have no need of God, like the verse says, we despise wisdom and instruction. We think we have got this - we are essentially declaring ourselves ruler over our own lives. If this is where you are, how is that working for you? I would dare to speculate all of us have put ourselves on that pedestal, thinking we are in control. As God says this leads to thinking we know it all, thereby not seeking wisdom and instruction - the true wisdom and instruction from God.

If you have known the experience of fearing God, standing in awe of God, you have begun the lifelong process of learning to know God. Do you remember when you first felt in awe or reverence to God? Maybe it was when you were a small child or maybe you had a recent experience of first coming into that knowledge of God’s presence in your life. If you were brought up in the church, you might have recognized God’s presence in a special worship service or around the dinner table as your parent read scripture or a special Bible story to you. Let’s face it - we all have come into God’s presence - He has made Himself known to us. That was the beginning - God making Himself known to us - asking us into a relationship with Him.

It says in His Word that He knew us before the beginning of time, that He knit us together in our mother’s womb. He knows every part of us, but when we first acknowledge God, we only begin to know Him. The beginning of the knowledge of God is that, only a beginning of an ongoing relationship that will grow over time, if you open yourself ups to Him.

Let’s compare it to our relationship with our spouses. Do you remember when you first got married? You thought you knew who you married, but as you began your life together, did you often wonder who this is that I married? Many facets of that other person’s personality were revealed. As the years go by, you learn more about that person and you begin to think each other’s thoughts, finish each other’s sentences. You know that person more than you did on the first day you joined in relationship with them. God designed us that way - to begin to know Him and then grow deeper in relationship to Him as you walk with Him in this life.

Have you made a commitment in your life to Jesus? Are you growing in relationship to Him? At what level is your knowledge of Him? Are you at the beginning or are you growing deeper in the knowledge of Him? Pray today that God will make Himself known to you and ask