In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
One God. Amen.
Wisdom , Knowledge , Understanding and Counsel
Introduction
Many loved wisdom , knowledge and understanding and so , they gained much here on earth and will gain much in heaven . For sure , love and faith are the best things , and salvation is by the grace of God , but still God loves those who love Him and love wisdom , knowledge and understanding and those who take His counsel in all things . And these four , wisdom , knowledge, understanding and counsel are very essential for salvation , for the Holy Bible says "Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" "Isaiah 5:13 Therefore my people have gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge" and "Proverbs 2:1-12 My son, if you receive My words, and treasure My commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom , and apply your heart to understanding , … , then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God , for the Lord gives wisdom , from His mouth come knowledge and understanding , when wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you , understanding will keep you" . So , For sure , it is very important to seek these four , for your salvation , and for the salvation of others and for the glory of God.
This book is to help people seek , love and receive : heavenly wisdom , good knowledge , right understanding and counsel from God and from the wise righteous men .
Although the Holy Bible says "Proverbs 12:23 A prudent man conceals knowledge" , I am going to do as St. Paul did one time and spoke as a fool "2 Corinthians 11:23 I speak as a fool" , and give all what I have to every one who wants to take and receive.
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"2 Chronicles 1:10 God , give me wisdom and knowledge" "1 Kings 3:9 "give to Your servant an understanding heart … , that I may discern between good and evil" , this is the prayer which Solomon prayed when God appeared to him in a dream and told him to ask for something . If we combine them together , the whole prayer may be "God , give me wisdom , knowledge and understanding … , and that I may discern between good and evil" . And then God said to him " 2 Chronicles 1:11,12 because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life , but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king , wisdom and knowledge are granted to you , and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like." , see also "1Kings3:10-12"
And So Solomon lived in glory and peace all the days of his life , he built the temple of God in Jerusalem which is known on his name , he became famous so that all other kings of the surrounding nations came to hear his wisdom "Matthew 12:42 the queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon , and indeed a greater than Solomon is here" . We should notice here something that is very important at the end of this last verse , Jesus says about Himself that He is greater than Solomon , yes , our Lord Jesus is the wisdom of God and the Word of God , it is He who gave Solomon wisdom , knowledge and understanding , and it is He who gives us all from His wisdom , knowledge and understanding through our Lord the Holy Spirit , the Spirit of wisdom and knowledge , the Spirit of understanding and counsel , He gives counsel to everyone of His beloved in every situation and in any field . As we all know nothing is absolutely right , and nothing happens twice , what is right here may be wrong there , what is right with you may be wrong with me … , so even if any one has much wisdom , knowledge and understanding , he still always needs God's guidance and counsel.
Solomon symbolized Jesus in many things , of course he was a real person , but I mean that he was a symbol of Jesus in many things , as Jonah , Joseph … and all other men in the Old Testament symbolized Jesus in certain things in their lives
We also have , Joshua son of Sirach who consecrated his life to study the law and the prophets of the Old Testament , seeking wisdom … , and wrote to us his great book .
And also Moses , "Acts 7:22 Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds" , he was learned in the Egyptian wisdom in his first forty years , then for another forty years he was learned in another wisdom with his father in law , then for a third forty years , he was learned in the best wisdom , the wisdom of God , in Sinai . And so , he could fast 40 days without eating or drinking , his prayer was the best prayer acceptable to God , he was honest in all the house of the Lord , he was able to lead God's people all that time , and God talk with him face to face as a man talks with his friend " Numbers 12:7 … My servant Moses , He is faithful in all My house , I speak with him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings , and he sees the form of the Lord ".
We also see the wisdom of Paul , who first had earthly human wisdom and wrong understanding of the law , but when the Holy Spirit enlightened his mind , he understood everything the right way , and , because he opened his heart to the love of God he received heavenly wisdom.
Joseph , the son of Jacob , had wisdom in interpreting dreams , and this led him to be the head [ruler] of all Egypt , the greatest country in that time .
And Abigail , who , by her wisdom and humbleness saved her husband.
-- As wisdom , knowledge and understanding are important for everyone , they are also important for every family, company and firm , and also for every country and nation.
-- Again we always need to remember that the best wisdom ever is that of the Holy Trinity our Lord and God . Our Lord Jesus is the wisdom of God , and the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of wisdom , and , the Father is wisdom , as it is said that God is love , we can also say "God is wisdom" . Also God is the Omniscient , He knows everything everywhere and in all times . And , He has the right understanding in everything everywhere and in all times .
+ Someone may say , but God wants our hearts , He wants us to love Him , He said " Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways" . We say to him , yes brother you are right , God wants our hearts , but still He wants our minds too , notice that in this same verse he says "Let your eyes observe my ways" , how can we observe His ways except by the wisdom , knowledge … which He give us . And when we give Him our hearts , He fills them with His love , but He also fills them with wisdom , … .
+ Another may say : Is it not written "Mt.8:3 , Ps.1:15 unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" , so why do you keep talking about wisdom and knowledge.
We say to him , it is also written "1Cor.14:20 do not be children in understanding , however in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature"
Let us contemplate some on these two verses , [it is a part from the book "It is written… it is also written …"] :
How nice and pure is the life of little children , they are simple and pure in heart , they play joyfully , laugh and weep , run and sleep and do everything with love and without deceit , they love all and forgive all , they are full of great virtues rarely found in adults [in old people] . And so our Lord Jesus said it clearly that if we don't covert and become as little children we shall not enter His kingdom in heaven , and not only this but even more , our rank and position and greatness in heaven will depend on how much we are like little children , for in "Mt.18:4" when His disciples asked Him saying "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" , He said "whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven"
Now , all this is great , but does this mean that we become as little children in understanding , knowledge and wisdom? Surely not , for even our Lord says "Jn.14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." , and St. Paul says "1Cor.14:20 do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature" , "1Cor.13:11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child , I thought as a child , but when I became a man, I put away childish things" see also "Eph.4"11-14" . From all this , and , because Jesus wants us to be perfect , we conclude that , we must be like little children and like babes in malice , and never do any bad thing , but at the same time we must love our Lord and keep His commandments and do all what He wants us to do , but do them with all heavenly wisdom and right understanding .
+ If another says , Jesus said "Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns , yet your heavenly Father feeds them" . We say , this doesn't mean that we stay simple without wisdom … , for we can not take only one verse and follow what is in it, we must take the Holy Bible as a whole, with this verse we must also obey all other verses , but here he only wanted us to depend mainly on God , then depend on our wisdom … , which He Himself gave to us .
It is important to depend on the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit , for He is "Isaiah 11:2 … , the Spirit of wisdom and understanding , the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord". He is one and equal with the Father and the Son"
+ Someone else may say , but all those who sought wisdom , despaired , and they don't like this life and … , like Solomon who said "all is vanity" , as it is written: "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity… grasping for the wind… and no profit under the sun" (Ecc.1,2).
We say to him , even Solomon himself , right after this , he knew that despair is a great evil , as it is also written : "Therefore I turned my heart and despaired … , this also is vanity and a great evil" (Ecc.2: 21, 22)
Let us contemplate some on these two verses :
We notice here that both verses were said by one person, King Solomon , who wrote them in "Ecclesiastes", the book which contains brief important notes about his life and extracts from his wisdom and his experience in his life.
Solomon was king over Israel in Jerusalem, he asked wisdom, knowledge and understanding from God, and God granted them to him, and so he set his heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven, then he found out that all was vanity and grasping for the wind (1:12-14).
He communed with his heart saying that he had gained more wisdom, knowledge and understanding than all who were before him in Jerusalem (1:16-18).
He built himself houses and planted himself vineyards. He made himself gardens, orchards and water pools. He acquired male and female servants and singers and whatever his eyes desired he did not keep from them, but again he said that all was vanity and grasping for the winds and there was no profit under the sun (2:1-11).
And although he was sure that wisdom excels folly, yet he perceived that what happens to the fool, happens also to him, so he said "this also is vanity" (2:12-15).
After he had perceived all this, he hated life and all his labor in which he had toiled under the sun (2:17, 18).
And so, he turned his heart and despaired of all the labor in which he had toiled under the sun…, but then he found out that this also is vanity and a great evil (2: 20,21)
+ It is good , here , to speak about two main points:
[1] The first point is that , when he said all is vanity , he meant all earthly things not the heavenly things , this is very clear in all this book , the book of Ecclesiastes , specially the first 2 chapters , where he repeats "under the sun" , so it is only our life on earth where everything vanishes even the earth itself and even more this first heaven , they all will vanish "Mt.24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away / Mk.13:31, Lk.21:33" , as for our life in the kingdom of heaven, over the sun , everything is completely different , for everything there will last forever in the everlasting life . This lets us love God and fear Him and do His commandments as Solomon also commands us in the conclusion in the end of this same book.
So , does this mean not to do anything here waiting for the eternal life , of course not , we must do every good thing here and do it honestly , but while doing anything here we need to keep in mind our eternal life , or in other words we should think how will it benefit us in the eternal life .
[2] The second point is that the Holy Bible speaks a lot about hope , joy , honesty and about working hard [not to be lazy] , and here he says that if anyone hated life , it is a great evil "2:21" , great evil because it is against God's commandments and against the good of that same person who despaired , and despair is vanity as all other things . As we have just said , hope is as important as love and faith "1Cor.13:13" , and spiritual joy is also very important "Phil.4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always" , and , our Lord teaches us many things about honesty and He says that laziness is wickedness, in the parable in "Mt.25:14-30" where He described the lazy servant that he is wicked.
So , briefly , all is vanity is about everything under the sun that will not benefit us in the everlasting life , but what will continue there or be useful to us there will not vanish.
And let us here the conclusion of the whole matter as Solomon himself said in the book of Ecclesiastes : "Ecc.12:13,14 Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.
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Few more nice verses :
(Jn.17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent).
(Dan.12:3 Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament).
"Matthew 13:52 every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."
Surely there are many mysteries concerning the kingdom of heaven that God has kept hidden
How to gain and receive knowledge
There are many things that should accompany knowledge whether in the beginning or in general. but first we need to know that knowledge should not be our goal , it is just a way that leads us to God . Then :
1] We need to pray , because continual prayers : a) guide everyone to what he should learn . b) keep us from misunderstanding anything , this misunderstanding may lead us to perdition . c] Give us greater ability to perceive , study by heart and memorize , and to rejoice with what we know , and , remind us of the suitable thing in the suitable time. d] and , prayers also , help us to use what we know the best way and make much fruit.
2] Discipleship : everyone needs to be a disciple of a good teacher , at least for a while , for a few years , even the apostles were disciples to Jesus , two of them were disciples to John the Baptist , Hoshau was a disciple of Moses and Moses was a disciple in the house of pharaoh and in the house of his father in law , Elisha was Elijah's disciple , then all these disciples , taught others .
And so , we should be humble in hearts and receive from those who are full of love and want to hand over good spiritual things they had received from others
3] Then after that , everyone needs to have some time where he is alone with God, He prays and fasts, contemplates and meditates in God's words, and the Holy Spirit guides him, works in his heart and mind and give him private lessons in what suits him and in what God wants from him.
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Now , what may happen after we have gained a lot of
wisdom , knowledge and understanding
1] Wisdom , knowledge and understanding , if you do not use them according to God's will , they may let you become pride , proud of yourself , and so lose many virtues and by turn God forsakes you , and so , surely you will lose what you have gained , and even more these wisdom … you have gained may harm you more than if you have not received them . As for true love "1 Corinthians 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind , love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.
2] "James 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment." You may like to teach others , whether with good intention because you love them or with bad intention to show them that you know more than them. In both cases you may teach wrong doctrines or bad harmful teachings , so always be careful and always pray to the Holy Spirit to speak through you and to keep you from doing any bad thing and from causing any harm to anyone.
3] Accuracy : "Luke 1:3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things" "Acts 18:25 this man … being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord" . So we all need to pray to God and to do our best to always be as accurate as possible in our understanding and in what we say to others . but sometimes when one likes to be accurate , he pays more attention to the small things and forgets the important things , as the Pharisees did "Matthew 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone" , notice what Jesus said "These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone" , so , we also need to do and say the most important things first , then the other things
4] Rest : you should always rest and sleep as much as you need , because "Ecc. 12:12 much study is wearisome to the flesh"
5] Do not hasten getting much wisdom … , for it takes long time, many years , to reach a good level in them , let us read a very good parable "Mark 4:26 And He said, the kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how , for the earth yields crops by itself , first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head …." . Now if we apply this parable to wisdom … , we can say that you read some information , receive some knowledge , try to understand them the best way , and be wise in applying them , but , then it takes many years for these information to grow and brings forth fruits of various good kinds , we don't know how , but that is what happens , because these information need experience in life to grow , need counsel from God and from others to be watered , you see a situation of which you learn new things then you compare these new information with the old ones …. and so on , by all these , and through many years you will reach the best condition , even Solomon , after he took wisdom … from God he first collected many proverbs and after many years he became the most famous wise man and at the end of his life he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes which was the conclusion of his wisdom .
6] Your knowledge and other people : a) many may envy you , and will not like that you prosper . b) know that your wisdom … will differ than the wisdom … of others , which may also cause some trouble if you don't have great love and humbleness in heart. C) deal with [accompany] wise men and you will increase in wisdom … .
Counsel
There are many verses about how important it is to take the counsel of the Holy Spirit and of others , but we'll briefly say , the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of counsel "Isaiah 11:2" , which means that He gives counsel to all who ask Him. And the Bible says : "Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall , but in the multitude of counselors there is safety" "Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding , in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths , do not be wise in your own eyes , fear the Lord and depart from evil" and "Proverbs 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother" "Proverbs 13:10 By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom" .
So it is important to counsel others whenever it is necessary , specially God then your father and mother as long as you are still young . But also beware lest someone you love and trust , gives you an evil counsel .
Wisdom
- "James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him" "James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom" and "Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes shame , but with the humble is wisdom" . So pray and ask wisdom of God and He will give you , but after you receive you must behave righteously .
- Wisdom given by God can be in any field , not only in religion but also in any other field "Exodus 28:3 so you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments" "Exodus 31:3 "And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship" and "Luke 21:15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist" So now go ahead and ask God to give you wisdom, knowledge and understanding in any field you like , go , what are you waiting for!
+ Divine [heavenly] wisdom , and , human and/or evil wisdom :
The heavenly wisdom , or the good wisdom , is like that given to Solomon from God , it is full of virtues and good deeds , but the bad wisdom is that which causes destruction and leads to hell , and , God destroyed this evil wisdom "Isaiah 29:14 Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, a marvelous work and a wonder, for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden." And "1Corinthians 1:19 For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent" . They both are alike in appearance but actually they are completely different . About both of them read "James 3:13-18" .
+ Benefits of heavenly wisdom : And blessings come with it , it gives wealth and happiness to those who love it and fills their treasuries "Prov.8:21" , it gives a lot of things , and , we can sum up many of its [her] benefits in the following verses in "Proverbs 3:13-18 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding , for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold , she is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her , length of days is in her right hand , in her left hand riches and honor , her ways are ways of pleasantness , and all her paths are peace , she is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her" and "Proverbs4:8 exalt her, and she will promote you , she will bring you honor, when you embrace her , she will place on your head an ornament of grace , a crown of glory she will deliver to you"
+ Who is wise : A wise man is he who asks wisdom knowledge and understanding from God , he asks these things from God in the religious field , in the field of his career and in all fields that will help him have better life here on earth and in heaven.
+ Wisdom , Riches and Power : these three are useful and are needed by every one, and they can be very helpful if used the right way according to God's commandments and God's will . But as we have just seen , wisdom can easily bring the other two with it , and even , if any of the other two can bring wisdom with it , but I see that it will not be as great as when wisdom prevails .
God and Wisdom
It is said in the Holy Bible that Jesus Christ , the Son of God , is , the wisdom of God "1Cor.1:24" . And also the Holy Spirit , is , the Spirit of wisdom "Isaiah 11:2" . God is infinite , and every Hypostasis [person] of God is infinite , and so , God's wisdom is also infinite . and it is said about God "God is love" , we can also say "God is wisdom" , and He , glory be to Him , is the source of every heavenly wisdom . He loves wise men , and loves those who love Him and those who ask wisdom from Him and those who love His wisdom .
Christ , is the Word of God "Jn.1:1" and the wisdom of God "1Cor.1:24" who was incarnated and became man . Some philosophers had previously spoke about wisdom as a man . And even Solomon in Proverbs chapter 8 did this , he spoke of wisdom as if he heard Jesus speaking . In Proverb chapter 8 we read "Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice? … To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men … I, wisdom … The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old … I have been established from everlasting , from the beginning, before there was ever an earth , when there were no depths I was brought forth …" , all these are about Jesus the Lord , the Son of God .
And the Holy Spirit is also the Creator "Psalm104:30" with the Father and the Son, and He gives wisdom to whom He likes and to them who ask from Him.
And the Father created all things by His wisdom [His Son] "John1:3" , and He sends forth His Spirit , the Holy Spirit , to give wisdom as He wills "Ezek.28:3"
So the Holy Trinity , is the One Almighty and Omniscient God and the source of all heavenly wisdom .
Wisdom , Knowledge , Understanding and Counsel
These 4 the Lord loves , and are very useful to man , heavenly wisdom , good knowledge , right understanding and counsel with humbleness of heart.
Seek them and you will receive great benefits . But be careful "Ecclesiastes 1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow" , and you may despair , this is what happened to Solomon , but because he had known that despair is a great evil "Ecc.2:21,22" , he started to have joy. Also know that fools will despise your wisdom … and every good thing you have
+ By these four , heavenly wisdom , good knowledge , right understanding and God's counsel , many great saints did , performed and achieved God's will and many great and extraordinary things . And of course on top of all of them was our Lord Jesus .
By these 4 , king Solomon glorified God's name and declared His greatness among all nations , and made peace with all of them . By them he reigned and ruled over God's people , built the house of God , became one of the best kings and saints in human history in many fields .
By these 4 , Moses led the people of God for 40 years till they came to the promised land , and had become the best in many fields like fasting , prayer , honesty in God's house , and in many other virtues .
By these 4 , and by interpreting dreams , Joseph reigned over Egypt and saved the house of Jacob his father , and also saved many peoples from the famine that came in his days.
By these 4 Abigail saved her husband from death , and prevented David from doing evil.
By these 4 , Joshua son of Sirach wrote his wonderful book about wisdom .
By these 4 , heavenly wisdom , good knowledge , right understanding and God's counsel , the disciples , and apostles and Paul preached Christianity in the whole world . And until now all churches use them to do God's will through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
+ It may be good here to take some other examples of the love of the great saints in the Holy Bible :
Abel loved God , and offered to Him the best he had , but because of this his brother murdered him , and so Jesus considered him a martyr "Mt.23:35".
Enoch loved God and walked with Him 365 years until God took him "Genesis 5:24 and Enoch walked with God , and he was not , for God took him"
And Noah was a righteous man and walked with God , and so he found grace in the sight of the Lord , and so God made a covenant with him and his descendents "Gen. 6"
By his love to God , Abraham obeyed Him left his land and his family and went to a land he had not known before "Gen.12" . And he also offered his beloved son as a sacrifice to God . And also Isaac obeyed God and his father .
By his love to God , Joseph refused to sin [Gen.39:9] , so God made him head [and ruler] in the land of Egypt
By love and faith , Moses , when he became of age refused to be called son of Pharaoh's daughter choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the love of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. And he also lived forty years waiting for the salvation of God , fasting and praying , and again lived forty more years in the wilderness of Sinai.
And David loved God , and always praised God and sang to Him many great psalms and spiritual songs , And always glorified Him saying "glorify Your holy name" .
Samuel the prophet , always called in the name of the Lord , and prayed much and his prayers was the most acceptable to God .
Elijah left everything and lived with God alone on mount Carmel .
And the same was with John the Baptist , who also said "He -Christ- must increase" , he wanted all glory for God .
And the same was with all those who lived in the mountains , in caves and in wilderness "Heb.11"
Mary loved God and sat at His feet , and Martha loved Him and ministered to Him.
The disciples and apostles preached all nations and taught them everything about Him , and bore persecution and much evil for His name.
They all , and all other believers , loved God the Holy Trinity , and everyone of them did what He could for the glory of God.
+++ Finally , we say the conclusion of the whole matter as it is written in the book of Ecclesiastes and from the words of our Lord Jesus : Love God , fear Him and do His commandments , love Him with all your heart , with all your soul , with all your mind , and , with all what you have and all what is in you . And , love all men as yourself .
+++ May God bless you . Please pray for me.
