"....A Wise And Understanding People"

"Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'"  (Deuteronomy 4:6, NIV)

Do they?  Do people say of you and me, "....a wise and understanding people"?

Yet we must point out from today's text that the assessment of, "....a wise and understanding people", does not come from our charisma, or personality, or brilliance, or any such characteristic.  It comes from, "Observe them carefully."  The world's hungry souls are looking for those who, "Observe them carefully." 

As with the Jews, Followers of Jesus are hated just because we are Followers of Jesus.  But Jesus teaches us that there are those in the earth who, "....hunger and thirst after righteousness."  It is these folk from whom we should hear, "....a wise and understanding people."  May I never put a stumbling block in their way.  They are searching, longing, even praying for salvation, deliverance from a hopeless life style, all of which is only in Jesus Christ.  There is truth in the statement that the only Bible many of them have read is you and I.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that those who are "looking for" You will see in me, "....a wise and understanding people."  Amen.

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