TRUE WISDOM
1 Corinthians 3:18
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
Personal Challenge
We have become a people, and a culture, that prides itself on what it calls wisdom. Granted, we have greater access to information than any other age or culture before us, but that does not lead to true wisdom. Wisdom requires that we be able to parse all that information, that knowledge, and discard the chaff that is invalid and not truthful. We cannot do this effectively without a sincere relationship with Jesus who is Wisdom incarnate. This is what Paul means when he claims that we must become a fool in order to become wise. We must give up all that we think that we know, humble ourselves before God, and let His wisdom overshadow us. Glory be to God!
GUARDING OUR MOUTH
Psalms 141:3 (140:3)
Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth,
A door of enclosure about my lips.
Personal Challenge
So many of us to today are plagued with the dreadful foot-in-mouth disease. This has been aggravated and spread by the proliferation of social media. How often do we say something just to regret it later? Worse yet, how often do we say things not caring how much someone else is hurt or degraded? We have entered into an age where highly visible leaders have embraced this way of speaking and therefore condoning it. As Christians, it is our responsibility to bring back decency in our conversations. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
GOD'S PREPARATION
1 Corinthians 2:9
But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Encouraging Words
As limited, finite beings, we have no clue of that which our unlimited, infinite God and Father has in store for us. His love for us is so unknowable and therefore it is incomprehensible for us to understand the plans that He has for us as His cherished children. Our role in this is to be open to all that He has in store for us and to receive it faithfully and with gratitude. Glory be to God!
KNOW MY HEART AND PATHS
Psalms 139:23-24 (138:23-24)
Test me, O God, and know my heart;
Examine me, and know my paths,
And see if there is a lawless way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Personal Challenge
God knows our hearts as well as the path of life that we choose to follow. He knows these better than we do ourselves. He will refine us in order to help us purge those things in our life that get in His way, He does this so that we can be purified for Him. Glory be to God!
GLORY IN THE LORD
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”
Personal Challenge
No matter how much knowledge we gain, no matter how much physical strength we acquire in our bodies, no matter how many possessions we accumulate in our journey through life, we have nothing and are nothing without our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the wisdom from God. He is righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. He deserves all the glory. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
Saint of the Week
St. Xanthias
OVERWHELMING
Psalms 139:4-6 (138:4-6)
For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether,
The last things and the first things;
You fashioned me, and placed Your hands on me.
Your knowledge has become too wondrous for me;
It has become too overwhelming; I am unable to grasp it.
Personal Challenge
The more we get to know God, the closer we are to Him, the more we realize how little we know Him and how far from Him we truly are. He knows everything about us, even our future, and we know so little about Him. This is very humbling and should drive us to our knees before Him in sincere worship. Even with all of this, He still loves us completely. Glory be to God!
