"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.....But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us wisdom from God...." (Proverbs 4:7 & 1 Corinthians 1:30)
In the Book of Psalms we are taught that the first "step" to wisdom is, "the fear of the Lord." In 1 Corinthians we are taught that, "Wisdom from God," is, "in Christ Jesus." I really do not care how smart, perceptive, able to "read people" someone may be. If they do not fear our Lord Jesus Christ, quite frankly, I am very, very cautious as to what may seem to be any "wisdom" coming from them. The Word of God tells us that, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And...get understanding." Be careful where you look for, "wisdom...and...understanding."
One dictionary defines wisdom as "having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. One of Webster's definition is, "the natural ability to understand things that most other people cannot understand." Notice that it is not that "most other people" do not understand, but "cannot understand." This could be key to understanding Biblical wisdom. To give a variant of a cliche bumper sticker, "Know Jesus-Know Wisdom. No Jesus-No Wisdom." We could also put it this way, "Know the Word of God-Know Wisdom. No Word of God-No Wisdom. Wisdom, which alone is in Christ Jesus, is not as Webster's says, "natural ability," some innate quality. It is obtained in the Word of God and His "God-Breathed" Words alone. When someone looks at you with those I-know-what's-really-going-on-here eyes, don't be fooled; they don't. As we stay surrendered to Jesus and His Words, we have those "eyes."
Let me apply our texts to a very volatile situation here in the USA. Many who read my devotionals live in nations where they have the privilege to help determine the kind of people who govern those nations. It is just as much a sin to ignore this privilege/obligation as is, "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." James 4:17 says, "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." We are talking of Kingdom life style, living as a Citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. "But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us wisdom from God," and it is this, "Wisdom from God," which gives us the "edge" over those who are not surrendered to Jesus, who do not live under Jesus' Authority as King of the Kingdom of God/Heaven. When you choose someone to vote for, depend solely on the, "Wisdom from God," which/Who is, "Christ Jesus." One sad fact of reality in the United States of America is that the Church could determine who is the President, who is in Congress, and who sit on the Supreme Court.
This could very well be the number one "sin" of those who live in democracies. Over 50% of self proclaimed "evangelicals," "born againers," do not vote. They can determine whether righteousness rules their nations or evil rules their nations; instead, they keep up religious activity in their religious conclaves, while all the time ignoring something which they can control. And if anyone thinks that we are not called to "control," just consider again "The Great Commission." The command of our text is just that, a command. "....Get wisdom....Get understanding"----- and do something with it.
Father, in Jesus' Name, "Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth...." Amen.
In the Book of Psalms we are taught that the first "step" to wisdom is, "the fear of the Lord." In 1 Corinthians we are taught that, "Wisdom from God," is, "in Christ Jesus." I really do not care how smart, perceptive, able to "read people" someone may be. If they do not fear our Lord Jesus Christ, quite frankly, I am very, very cautious as to what may seem to be any "wisdom" coming from them. The Word of God tells us that, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And...get understanding." Be careful where you look for, "wisdom...and...understanding."
One dictionary defines wisdom as "having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. One of Webster's definition is, "the natural ability to understand things that most other people cannot understand." Notice that it is not that "most other people" do not understand, but "cannot understand." This could be key to understanding Biblical wisdom. To give a variant of a cliche bumper sticker, "Know Jesus-Know Wisdom. No Jesus-No Wisdom." We could also put it this way, "Know the Word of God-Know Wisdom. No Word of God-No Wisdom. Wisdom, which alone is in Christ Jesus, is not as Webster's says, "natural ability," some innate quality. It is obtained in the Word of God and His "God-Breathed" Words alone. When someone looks at you with those I-know-what's-really-going-on-here eyes, don't be fooled; they don't. As we stay surrendered to Jesus and His Words, we have those "eyes."
Let me apply our texts to a very volatile situation here in the USA. Many who read my devotionals live in nations where they have the privilege to help determine the kind of people who govern those nations. It is just as much a sin to ignore this privilege/obligation as is, "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." James 4:17 says, "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." We are talking of Kingdom life style, living as a Citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. "But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us wisdom from God," and it is this, "Wisdom from God," which gives us the "edge" over those who are not surrendered to Jesus, who do not live under Jesus' Authority as King of the Kingdom of God/Heaven. When you choose someone to vote for, depend solely on the, "Wisdom from God," which/Who is, "Christ Jesus." One sad fact of reality in the United States of America is that the Church could determine who is the President, who is in Congress, and who sit on the Supreme Court.
This could very well be the number one "sin" of those who live in democracies. Over 50% of self proclaimed "evangelicals," "born againers," do not vote. They can determine whether righteousness rules their nations or evil rules their nations; instead, they keep up religious activity in their religious conclaves, while all the time ignoring something which they can control. And if anyone thinks that we are not called to "control," just consider again "The Great Commission." The command of our text is just that, a command. "....Get wisdom....Get understanding"----- and do something with it.
Father, in Jesus' Name, "Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth...." Amen.
*************************
* Berlin Mission: October, 2016
* More on growing crisis in Europe: jhs58.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
