There is a wonderful principle set forth in this text showing us that there is an undeniable connection between obedience to God and spiritual understanding and perception. "Any man" who has been quickened by the Spirit of God and given a desire to comply with His precepts, and who responds positively to that desire, will find his insight into divine things increasing as he goes along. God's people, in regeneration, receive of God's fullness, and are given "grace for grace" (John 1:16). Hence, if they properly use the grace He gives them it will result in their being given more grace (See James 4:6). It is in this sense that the apostle Paul besought the brethren that they not "receive the grace of God in vain" (II Cor. 6:1). "God resisteth the proud (those who rebel against His precepts), but giveth grace unto the humble." 

    In regeneration He gives His people spiritual senses, and the "strong meat" of the gospel belongs to those of them who exercise those senses to such an extent that they develop a keener ability to "discern both good and evil" (See Heb. 5:14). Without this exercise of the spiritual senses they will be in great danger of calling evil good and good evil and putting darkness for light and light for darkness, etc. (See Isaiah 5:20). Good spiritual discernment is vital to God's people, but they are not going to have that discernment if their walk is contrary to God's will. And they are not going to know what God's will is unless they spend a lot of time in His word, hiding it in their heart and storing it in their mind. I don't think I have ever known of any church trouble that was not in some way a by-product of a lack of spiritual knowledge and discernment. 

    If God's people are not "growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18) then they are losing ground. Paul besought the Thessalonian brethren that as they had received of him how they ought to walk and to please God, so they would abound more and more (I Thess. 4:1). And he prayed for the Philippian brethren that their love might abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment (Phil. 1:9). May the Lord help us to do His will, and to increase in knowledge and understanding.