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Wisdom Pill · Day 8

Knowing, Understanding and Doing

September 8, 2026 · For the grown-ups to read with the kids

Before anything else: God loves you all the time, and he likes teaching you. You can ask him about anything.

Let me tell you about something that looks like one thing but is really three. They are like steps on a little staircase.

The first step is knowing. You know you have to brush your teeth. Everybody knows that.

The second step is understanding. You understand why: because there are tiny little creatures that spoil your teeth if nobody clears them away.

And the third step is the best one of all: doing it at the right moment. It is getting up off the sofa, walking to the sink and brushing, even on the day when you are very sleepy and the cartoon is at the best bit.

Notice that you can know it all and understand it all and still not do it. Plenty of grown-ups get stuck on that step too.

And here is something important. The third step is not the cleverest one. It is the most practised one. The more you do it, the easier it gets.

And do you know what Jesus did once? A lot of people came to ask him a question, just to try to catch him in a trap. The question had two answers, and both of them meant trouble.

But Jesus could see what they were trying to do. He asked for a coin, asked whose face was drawn on it, and gave a third answer that nobody had thought of.

Everybody was amazed. That is what having good judgment looks like.

And the best part of all: the Bible says that if anyone lacks wisdom, they can just ask God, because he gives it generously to everybody. Nobody has to be born knowing.

Knowing is the first step. Doing it at the right moment is the third.
Family Challenge

Today's challenge is called The Little Staircase.

At the end, talk about it: which step was hardest, knowing, understanding or doing?

This time's challenge: The Little Staircase
Family Prayer

Lord, thank you that you give wisdom to whoever asks, and that you give it kindly. Help our family not to stop at knowing and understanding. Give us courage to do the right thing at the right moment. And thank you for Jesus, who always knew what to do, even when people were trying to confuse him. In Jesus' name, amen.

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