Today's Word - Wisdom

 1 CORINTHIANS 3:19-20

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness." And again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."

The 'wisdom of this world' died in the flood because they did not believe God. 

The 'wisdom of this world' is restrictive to the soul, the mind and the body; it enchains and entices and kills. 

The 'wisdom of this world' denies the power of God and seeks power for itself. 

The 'wisdom of this world' is unkind, unloving and untruthful. It is hard-hearted, hateful and a liar. 

I would much rather be wise in the ways of the Lord than wise according to the substandards of this world, this age. What does it mean to be wise in the Lord?

Job 28:28

And He said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"

Psalm 111:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!

Proverbs 9:10 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Reverent fear acknowledges the awesome greatness of God, The LORD God. This fear is the beginning of being wise. I want to be wise. Don't you?

Being Wise

 

And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt. then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:2-3

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30

Contemplate this: are we the wise or the shameful? Will we go into everlasting life or everlasting contempt? How can we know now? 

Are we leading people to righteousness, telling people about the saving grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ? That’s being wise. 

Are we saved through the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who died on the cross? Who bore our sins upon Himself? That’s being wise. 

What is wisdom? Listening to and Obeying the Word of God with joy and a merry heart. Not with anger, nor accusative words, but with Love, with Patience, with Mercy. We are to treat one another with Grace and with Peace that passes understanding in this world. 

We must ask ourselves, “Am I being wise?”. Am I honoring God with my words and my works? Am I telling people about my Jesus, testifying what He has done for me? Am I a fruitful servant? Am I even saved in this manner, by the blood of Jesus Christ? And if I am not, how can I know that I am?

Romans 10:8-10

8. But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

9. that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

Some live on the false hope, false belief that sin is not real and salvation is not necessary. This is foolishness and definitely not wisdom. Wisdom comes from God. True morality and knowing right from wrong is having the wisdom of God.

Romans 3:22-23

22. And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 

23. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:10, 18

10. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. 

18. “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Romans 6:23

23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8

8. But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:13

13. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 8:1

1. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

And that’s how you can know you are saved, that’s how you can know now whether or not you are being wise or being shameful. So, again, the question is put forth: are we, are you, am I, being wise? Am I leading my family, my friends, my enemies and the strangers I meet daily to righteousness? Am I telling them, you, about my Jesus? Have I told you lately what Jesus Christ has done for me?

He saved me. He filled me with His precious Holy Spirit. He walks with me daily and all throughout my day. He talks with me, tells me things I need to hear and know. He lives in my heart, cleaning it out and making more room for His glory. My Jesus loves me. My Jesus died for me so I wouldn’t be sent into everlasting contempt. My Jesus feeds me with His daily Bread and quenches my thirst with His Living Water. My Jesus both satisfies me and gives me a hunger to know Him more. 

This I want for you. But only you can make that decision. I can pray for you. But only you can make your choice. Do you want to go to heaven? Or do you want to go to hell? Hell is not a pretty place. It is not a land of endless parties, nor is it a nothingness. Hell is hot. Hell is ugly. Hell is a place where you are never happy, never satisfied.   If you are selfish in this life, your selfish attitude goes with you to Hell. You can’t leave Hell after you die, so praying for this to happen after a person dies without Jesus Christ is foolishness.

Luke 16:19-31 is the parable of the rich man and the beggar.  Here we learn what Hell is.

23. It is a place of torment. 

24. It is hot and fiery.

26. It is separated from Paradise by a great chasm which none can cross, nor can anyone leave Hell. 

We have six senses in this life. Some work like they’re supposed to, some don’t. Whether we are in Heaven or Hell, we will have all six and they will all work.

Sight

Hearing

Touch

Smell

Taste

Knowing

How do we know this? Again, read Luke 16:19-31

Luke 16:23

Torment is felt (touch)

Luke 16:23

The rich man could see Lazarus in the distance.  

Luke 16:24

Though he had never seen him, the rich man recognized (knowing) Abraham right away (sight) and in his selfishness begged for the poor man to tend his needs. He was hot (touch) and thirsty (taste) and in agony (touch).

The sense of smell is implied because the man was burning and whatever is on fire smells like it is on fire. It’s not a good smell when it’s a person. 

A person can speak and hear in Hell, for the rich man spoke with Abraham and heard (hearing) Abraham’s response. 

As nasty as it is to choose to go to Hell, Hell will not last forever. But this is not good for those who choose to go there either. 

Revelation 20:14-15

14. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.

15. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

That’s Hell and Hell’s destination. Why would anyone in their right mind choose to disobey God and go to Hell? We can only have a right mind if Christ is in us and we are in Him. This comes through believing on His name, 

Mark 5:9, 15, 18-20

9. "What is your name?" Jesus asked. "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many."

15. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

18. As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by the demons begged to go with Him. 

19. But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.” 

20. So the man went away and began to proclaim throughout the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.

The man who was put in his right mind went back home and began to tell his family and friends about what his Jesus had done for him. He was being wise and fruitful. 

I am in my right mind. Though the world calls me crazy, God calls me His child. Though people call me odd and radical, Jesus calls me friend. I am being wise. And it is my prayer that I continue to be so. I want you to be so, too. I pray Ephesians 3 over your life. I pray the Romans Road to Salvation into your hearts and minds. I pray the Word of God bless you and make known to you the true Love of God and that you come into the knowledge of saving grace. 

 

Heart of Discerning

 

HEART OF DISCERNMENT
Proverbs 18:15
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
Who has the heart of discerning?

                                               The believer. (Romans 10:9)

                                                          What is the heart? 

             The soul: our will, our attitude, our intelligence/intellect.                                             (Romans 10:10)

How do we acquire knowledge?
From God. (Daniel 1:17).

                              And through spending time with God in prayer and                                        daily Bible reading. (Deuteronomy 4:29;                   Psalm 27:8; Psalm 119:2; Isaiah 55:6; Jeremiah 29:13;

1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:8; 2 Timothy 1:3)

Who are the wise?
They who fear the LORD (Proverbs 9:10).

                      How do we hear this knowledge we are seeking?

Through the hearing of the Word, whether we read our Bibles out loud or when we hear the full Truth of the Word preached in our churches. (Romans 10:17)

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Today's Thought From The Word - Discernment

DISCERNMENT

Synonyms are words that better aid in knowing what a word means and how to use that word. Some synonyms for Discernment would be:

Insight

Perception

Comprehension

Understanding

Wisdom

The Bible tells us that 'to discern' is to understand; consider carefully, gain understanding; pay close attention to; investigate. So, let's investigate.

The dictionary tells us that 'to discern' is to be able to distinguish one object from another, whether that object is intellectual knowledge or physical knowledge. 

For example, intellectual knowledge is the ability to make decisions based on what we know. While physical knowledge is how we obtain what we know through the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. 

We can discern what is right from what is wrong through obtained wisdom, which an only be found in the Bible, the Holy Scriptures. Wisdom comes from God and we need only ask for it. As Solomon did when he became King of Israel and had this conversation with God, so to speak:

God: "What shall I give you? Ask."

Solomon: "Give me an understanding heart, that I may judge Your people, that I may discern between good and bad."

God, who was pleased with Solomon's request, replied: "Because you asked for this and not long life, nor riches for yourself, nor the lives of your enemies, I will give you wisdom and so much more."

We are living in uncertain times and we need this same wisdom that King Solomon asked for. We need to be able to discern the times in which we live and make wise choices, judgments, for ourselves. Knowing right from wrong, common sense from crazy  sense.

God also promised Solomon that if he would walk in God's ways, keep God's statutes and commandments, then God would also lengthen his days. This promise is for us, too. We need to walk in God's ways, keep God's commandments and live accordingly. However this cannot be done on our strength. We need Christ in our hearts to bring us to God and we need the Holy Spirit in our hearts to make us presentable, holy, that we might stay for ever in God's presence. All we have to do is ASK.

And God will give us what He promises  He will give us. 

Delight In His Law--Psalm 1:1-6

1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

and
Philippians 1:10 "that you can discern what is best, that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ".

Make wise choices. Know what wisdom is by reading The Book of Proverbs. And follow after it, meaning hold onto it like glue (Psalm 63:8)

Wisdom Denied

Getting Ahead in Life

 

  My nephew, my brother's son Bryan, graduated from high school last night. He attended Reuther here in town. I do not remember having this much fun at my high school graduation. But then, that was 35 years ago. I barely remember high school at all. Their class valedictorian's first words were, "Every time I finish speaking you have to give me a round of applause." So, of course, everyone clapped after that. He never stopped smiling during his presentation, either. Part of his speech went like this, "Every valedictorian has three things they include in their speech: Courage, Endeavor and Ingenuity. These three topics make every speech boring, so I'm not going to include them in mine." Big round of applause; we all clapped, and the  graduates cheered.
     The valedictorian spoke about being bullied before coming to Reuther. He was transferred here as a last resort, because he was a troubled kid. Reuther has that reputation: send us your unruly, your difficult, your troublesome kids; we will help them pass their classes, we will help them graduate. If more teachers were willing to show compassion when it comes to teaching, more kids would be willing to not only attend class, but make an effort to be a good student, not just a fair or passing student. A child is more than what you see on the outside.
     Every speaker was entertaining, even the teachers. Mr. Farnsworth was the last major speaker. Part of his speech included saying Goodbye to a few of the teachers who would also be leaving Reuther High. And part of it included an admonition to change the world in which you live. Don't just take up space, but make a difference. (Now, I could be getting someone else's speech or two mixed up in here, so don't hold it against me). One speaker said, "Be the change you want to see."
     Reuther is the school our youngest son will be attending in the fall. I am glad he came with last night to the graduation ceremony. He got an opportunity to hear first hand how teachers are with their students, how teachers should be with their students. He got to see how classmates are supposed to treat each other. And I think, now more than ever he, is glad he chose Reuther as his future high school.

     But as I lay was waking up this morning I ruminated on the difference between being smart and being wise. In order to pass a class, a person has to be intelligent enough to understand what the teacher wants from the student. Some of us learn by listening, some of us learn by the hands-on technique. It's not enough most of the time to just hear the lesson, we need to see the lesson. Perhaps that was part of my difficulty: I am a hands-on learner. I learn how to do things by either watching someone show me how to do it, or having to learn it all by myself from my actions.

     And, while repetitive actions bring experience, wisdom comes from learning that some actions should not be repeated. Yes, I can read. Yes, I can write. I could read before I started school. My Mother taught me the basics by reading to me and having me read to her. My Mother is a hands-on teacher; both she and my Dad taught me the joy of reading, which opened up a whole new world to me. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. The library became home to me. (Mother liked to read Emilie Loring and Harlequin Romance and Daddy enjoyed the Dashielle Hammett genre).

     Teachers whose names I don't remember taught me to write. But the teacher who taught me to love writing, her name I remember. Mrs. Richardson, my sixth grade English teacher, taught me the joy of writing from the heart. That my thoughts were worth something. And I have realized over the years since, that this teacher taught me much more than that.
     By giving me the opportunity to express myself without fear of repercussion, Mrs. Richardson taught me that it is okay to make mistakes, as long as you fix the mistake, and go on from there. Thereby teaching me perseverance and dedication. She taught me respect because she gave me respect.

     It is the teachers who teach us the best that we remember long after we have left school far behind us. In high school I took a Creative Writing course. That teacher's name was Mr. Blum. It seems quite a few of us enjoyed being in his classes. Apparently, from the thoughts being expressed on our facebook page, he taught several English classes beside the Creative Writing course.

    Mr. Blum has a sense of humor. And if you are going to be a teacher, this is a must-have in the requirements list. Being a teacher is more than just having a degree in the field of your choice. It is more about profiting a child's life, than profiting your status. It is not about control and physical discipline; teaching is about instilling in a child personal values and a desire to learn and understand.
     These two teachers, whose names I can remember, are remembered by me for that very reason. They made learning a joy. They applied wisdom to their teaching skills, instead of just smarts. These teachers taught us to "be the change we want to see." We changed our world instead of letting our world change us. Though I must admit that for awhile, I did allow the world to change me. And I learned from my mistakes, that in order to be me, I must change before I can change the world around me. That is wisdom.
     Living a life of applied wisdom is how I am getting through life. Reminiscing in this way, I am reminded of not only where I started in my life, but how I got through it; how I overcame life's hurdles in young adulthood and reached a turning point where I needed another teacher to learn from.
     You can be a born-again Christian and still make wrong choices for your life. By giving my heart to Jesus, and repenting of the sins in my life, receiving His forgiveness and turning away from those sins and into His love, Jesus saved my soul from an eternal separation from God. But I still made bad choices for my life. And these choices had an impact on my growing family. Every choice we make in life, whether good or bad, has an impact on not only us, but the people who are the closest to us; our family or our friends or our co-workers, or all of them. The things we do and the things we say linger for years after. I needed someone to teach me to be a better person, to be the Christian I wanted to be, not the Christian I was being.
     And God showed me that the Holy Spirit is real. When Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His disciples he was sending the Holy Spirit to comfort them in His absence. And that this Holy Spirit would give them power to witness, and guide them wherever they were sent. That Holy Spirit is for us, too. For me. For you. We are still living in New Testament times. Revelation has not happened yet. The Holy Spirit is still here. He is here to impart wisdom to us. He is Wisdom.
     The Holy Spirit guides us in the reading of God's Word, giving us clarity and revealing God and Jesus Christ to us in the way in which God chooses to reveal Himself to us. Without the Holy Spirit, a person who reads the Bible, will read it without comprehending it. That's why there are so many translations available. That is why many choose to refer to the Bible as a book of fairy tales, stories for children, and not to be believed. Without wisdom activating the understanding of it, the reader is confused and repelled by the Bible. Some view it as history, some view it as mystery. While others may have it opened on the coffee table only, still other people never view it at all.

     The Holy Spirit is a hands-on teacher. He shows us how God wants us to live. He shows us how Christians are meant to behave, that the love of God is a love in action and deed, not just words. He teaches us that God's Word is alive and powerful. That God is still God and always will be God. He reveals the falsehoods of the world's wisdom and the truths of God's wisdom. They are not the same.
     The wisdom of the world derides the wisdom of God and views the Bible and those who believe all of it as foolishness. The wisdom of God reveals that the wisdom of the world is foolishness and that those who believe it are fools.
      The wisdom of the world follows the path of enlightenment through self. The wisdom of God is a path lighted by the Word of God through the Holy Spirit. With the first, it is about getting ahead in this world. It is about "what's in it for me?". It is about taking care of Number 1; me, me, me. With the second, it is about meeting God's needs and not my own. It is about putting others first. Waiting instead of hurrying. Living instead of dying. It's about living for Jesus and dying to self on a daily basis.
     I love my new Teacher, the Holy Spirit of God. He is still teaching me. And only when I leave this world, will I have graduated out of His class.

The Age

The Age

When we were children, we didn't know that we didn't know anything, and we were happy.

When we were teenagers, not only did we know everything, but we were definitely not happy. And we wanted everyone to know it.

In our twenties we started to learn a thing or two. And every new thing made us happy.

As we approached 30, we knew a thing or two about some things, but just enough to get by. Happiness was fleeting.

As 40 turned the corner, we knew we didn't know everything, and we wanted to know more. Happiness was a hit and miss.

Fifty arrived and not only did we not know everything, but we realized we really didn't know anything. And sometimes we were happy.

Sixty approaches and not only do we not know everything, we realize we never will. But we do know some things:

We know happiness is what we make it. Home is where the heart is. The world turns on its axis bringing us day and night. God loves us. Jesus died for us. The Holy Spirit leads and guides us. And the world turns.

We know enough to open our Bible and read it. We know enough to ask God to help us understand it, when we can't even begin to know what God is telling us.

When we were young, we were innocent.

At the age of awareness of what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is evil, we became accountable for ourselves. We became responsible for our actions and words; our inactions and things we left unsaid.

Seventy is not that far off and we realize that everything we have learned is leaving our brains. But it is the things we have learned with our hearts that will remain with us forever.

And we are happy.

( i wrote this dec 31, 2010 and posted it in my notes on facebook, but i wanted to share it here, too)