Proverbs
The book of Proverbs is all about wisdom. We are exhorted to follow after wisdom, to give all we have for understanding, and to esteem wisdom above all else. I find this message to be particularly important in today's culture where we are continually pressured to follow after foolishness and cheap thrills.
Sometimes it may seem difficult to forsake the world's dreams and seek wisdom and understanding in God. But I think we (who try to do so) can admit, at least deep down, that a life of wisdom is a life that is sustainable and full of integrity. Wisdom leads inevitably to following after God because God is the author of wisdom. From that come moral absolutes, which are far from popular in a relativistic world. I won't get into the moral absolute vs. relativism debate here, but you should read up on it (check out Greg Koukl and Stand to Reason, for starters). You'll see that wisdom really is the only way to go.
Showing posts with label wisdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wisdom. Show all posts
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Pray it like you mean it
Ephesians
What a powerful prayer! Paul prayed for the Ephesians (in Eph. 1:15-19): "For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe."
When I read this, I thought, wow, this prayer actually has some power behind it! So, consider for yourself, as I also plan to do, who can you pray this prayer for?
What a powerful prayer! Paul prayed for the Ephesians (in Eph. 1:15-19): "For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe."
When I read this, I thought, wow, this prayer actually has some power behind it! So, consider for yourself, as I also plan to do, who can you pray this prayer for?
Saturday, October 9, 2010
He is not here... (That may sound odd, but read on!)
Key verse
Luke 24:5-6 - "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!"
Luke
24:12 - Peter saw the empty graveclothes and heard from the women what they had seen, and yet still wondered what had happened to Jesus. History gives us great clarity because I can't see how there could be any other conclusion than Jesus rising from the dead. Living there at that time, seeing it happen before my eyes, I think resurrection could certainly be a possibility in my mind. After all, Jesus had already done a number of miracles, including bringing the dead back to life. Certainly knowing what I know now, if I saw something like that again, I feel like I would also believe in new life. However, I could be overly optimistic about this, and in the shock of the moment, perhaps I would simply be utterly confused. It's difficult to reach a sure answer on these hypothetical.
Here's a tidbit from Clarke's Commentary on a different section of this verse."Peter seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin that was about his head not lying with the linen clothes, but Wrapped together in a place by itself. All these circumstances prove that the thing was done leisurely; order and regularity being observed through the whole. Hurry and confusion necessarily mark every act of robbery."
Hebrews
11:40 - God planned something better for his people. It's hard not to want to charge ahead and make sure we get what we want in this life. We have got to rely on God because ultimately it is going to be God orchestrating everything anyway, and he sees everything, knows everything. Even when it looks like we're going to lose out on something, probably like Peter felt when he saw Jesus die, before he saw the empty clothes and began wondering, even when it looks that bad, God's in control! And we can take heart in that.
Isaiah
God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts. This idea ties right in to the readings from Hebrews and Luke. We only see a part of the picture. When God freely pardons us, we can't see the whole thing. When he forgives someone we don't think should be forgiven, we aren't seeing what God is seeing, and we certainly aren't thinking what he is thinking! He is so far above us. That's a good perspective to have, so that we can try and see the world from his point of view, at least a little bit, so that we can better understand what we're supposed to do.
Luke 24:5-6 - "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!"
Luke
24:12 - Peter saw the empty graveclothes and heard from the women what they had seen, and yet still wondered what had happened to Jesus. History gives us great clarity because I can't see how there could be any other conclusion than Jesus rising from the dead. Living there at that time, seeing it happen before my eyes, I think resurrection could certainly be a possibility in my mind. After all, Jesus had already done a number of miracles, including bringing the dead back to life. Certainly knowing what I know now, if I saw something like that again, I feel like I would also believe in new life. However, I could be overly optimistic about this, and in the shock of the moment, perhaps I would simply be utterly confused. It's difficult to reach a sure answer on these hypothetical.
Here's a tidbit from Clarke's Commentary on a different section of this verse."Peter seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin that was about his head not lying with the linen clothes, but Wrapped together in a place by itself. All these circumstances prove that the thing was done leisurely; order and regularity being observed through the whole. Hurry and confusion necessarily mark every act of robbery."
Hebrews
11:40 - God planned something better for his people. It's hard not to want to charge ahead and make sure we get what we want in this life. We have got to rely on God because ultimately it is going to be God orchestrating everything anyway, and he sees everything, knows everything. Even when it looks like we're going to lose out on something, probably like Peter felt when he saw Jesus die, before he saw the empty clothes and began wondering, even when it looks that bad, God's in control! And we can take heart in that.
Isaiah
God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts. This idea ties right in to the readings from Hebrews and Luke. We only see a part of the picture. When God freely pardons us, we can't see the whole thing. When he forgives someone we don't think should be forgiven, we aren't seeing what God is seeing, and we certainly aren't thinking what he is thinking! He is so far above us. That's a good perspective to have, so that we can try and see the world from his point of view, at least a little bit, so that we can better understand what we're supposed to do.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Wisdom
Wisdom. Proverbs has been speaking about how important wisdom is and that we should seek it, and that the wise will prosper. It's not an easy thing to be wise. Today I will be praying that God gives me wisdom for all of life's circumstances.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Being faithful
Key verse
Hebrews 7:25 - "Therefore he [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
Luke
I'd like to think that if someone accused me of being a follower of Jesus, I would say yes. And I truly think I would, at least in today's society. However, if I put myself in Peter's shoes, what would I do? He clearly thought he would stay with Jesus to the end, and in once sense he did, after he got over this initial bout of fear. But at this critical period of Jesus' life, Peter abandons him. Perhaps Peter feared being caught and killed, or was it simply that he simply didn't want to be associated with someone who was no longer popular with the people. Regardless, I think there are a few lessons here. One is, while it is great to have second chances, as Peter did (we'll read about this later), it's so much more fulfilling to get things right the first time. The second lesson is to not make rash promises. We discussed this in Hebrews a couple days ago. If we decide we'll do something, let's just do it, in spite of the costs.
Proverbs
A house is built through wisdom, and made full with knowledge (24:3-4). This verse struck me, but now that I try to think about it more deeply, I'm at a loss for what to say. I'm trying to picture this in my mind... To me, a house is built through love and made full with that same love. Rooms are filled with memories of the relationships that took place in those rooms. Wisdom helps in keeping those relationships strong, and so through that, wisdom builds the home.
Isaiah
Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress (33:2). It's one thing to say that this verse is comforting, but it is another to actually accept the truth of it. Do I think of God every morning and knowingly, willingly, place my trust in him, that he will be my strength for the day? More often, I get up and decide how I will go about my day. I need to take more time to place it in God's hands, because the only way I'll make it through the day with anything to show for it is through God. Moreover, when I am worried, distressed, or anxious, I need to give this to God and allow him to be my salvation. I need to let him come and wash over me with his peace. I need to take hold of his gift of love and realize that he is indeed all I need. When I ask for his strength and salvation, I need to truly accept it and live in that new reality.
Hebrews 7:25 - "Therefore he [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
Luke
I'd like to think that if someone accused me of being a follower of Jesus, I would say yes. And I truly think I would, at least in today's society. However, if I put myself in Peter's shoes, what would I do? He clearly thought he would stay with Jesus to the end, and in once sense he did, after he got over this initial bout of fear. But at this critical period of Jesus' life, Peter abandons him. Perhaps Peter feared being caught and killed, or was it simply that he simply didn't want to be associated with someone who was no longer popular with the people. Regardless, I think there are a few lessons here. One is, while it is great to have second chances, as Peter did (we'll read about this later), it's so much more fulfilling to get things right the first time. The second lesson is to not make rash promises. We discussed this in Hebrews a couple days ago. If we decide we'll do something, let's just do it, in spite of the costs.
Proverbs
A house is built through wisdom, and made full with knowledge (24:3-4). This verse struck me, but now that I try to think about it more deeply, I'm at a loss for what to say. I'm trying to picture this in my mind... To me, a house is built through love and made full with that same love. Rooms are filled with memories of the relationships that took place in those rooms. Wisdom helps in keeping those relationships strong, and so through that, wisdom builds the home.
Isaiah
Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress (33:2). It's one thing to say that this verse is comforting, but it is another to actually accept the truth of it. Do I think of God every morning and knowingly, willingly, place my trust in him, that he will be my strength for the day? More often, I get up and decide how I will go about my day. I need to take more time to place it in God's hands, because the only way I'll make it through the day with anything to show for it is through God. Moreover, when I am worried, distressed, or anxious, I need to give this to God and allow him to be my salvation. I need to let him come and wash over me with his peace. I need to take hold of his gift of love and realize that he is indeed all I need. When I ask for his strength and salvation, I need to truly accept it and live in that new reality.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)