Femei Extraordinare (8 Martie) - YouTube
Click on the link for the full video - Translation in English subtitles.
Friday, March 31, 2023
"WISDOM" by coleen
I don’t know about you, but I’ve said and done a lot of dumb things. Unfortunately, my poor choices didn’t/don’t only affect me, but often affect(ed) others around me. The Bible uses the word “foolish”—I don’t want to be a “fool” any more, and I certainly don’t want to hurt others, especially those I dearly love.
I never
liked “school” and I especially dread “tests,” including the ones brought on in
life; however, I humbly yield to the purifying/sanctifying necessity of said
trials and how they rid me of the dross of this life that so easily sticks to
me. With age, time and experience, the
wisdom has increased to yield more quickly/easily to the Lord’s refining hands –
and I still get tested so that I can keep purifying with Him those things He
wants to purify me of. He is the potter
and I am His clay. The molding works much better when its soft to the potter’s
hands. (Isaiah 45:9 and 2 Corinthians
4:7)
The past
couple of years, the Lord has stirred my heart on the subject of “wisdom” (MUCH
to learn, and practice). I humbly share, with His leading, what He has shown me
thus far. Success in application requires daily surrender & intent.
When I was a little girl, I loved the idea of the “genie in the magic lamp.” My first wish, of course, would be to wish for unlimited wishes. I also entertained the idea of a “fairy god-mother” who would make everything happen to get me to the prince’s ball and live “happily ever after.” Genie’s and fairy god-mothers don’t exist; but God does. He is almighty, ALL powerful, sovereign, and ALL KNOWING !!! And so much more. His attributes and character are a separate study, but I encourage you to look deeper in His Word at the infallible truth of WHO HE IS; especially His Names in Hebrew.
WISDOM: IS ONLY ATTRIBUTED TO GOD (it cannot be
attained apart from Him): HE (alone) is the giver of wisdom (it is His
Spirit). (Exodus 28:3, 31:3, 35:31,
Deuteronomy 4:6, 34:9, 1 Samuel 14:20, 2 Kings 3:28)
The Bible
tells us that King Solomon was the wisest man to ever live, and there will
never be any as wise as he was (1 Kings 4:29, 5:12). We can read much about Solomon and his wisdom
in the book of 1 Kings where we see that “God gave him wisdom and very great
discernment, and breadth of mind…People came from all over hear him.” We are reminded in 1 Kings 10:24 that it was
God who gave it to him.
Let’s look
at Solomon’s humble prayer to God in 2 Chronicles 1. In verse 7, we see that God appears to
Solomon and says to him, “Ask, what shall I give you?”
Solomon’s
request and God’s response (v. 8-13): “Solomon said to God, ‘You
have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and have made
me king in his place. Now, O Lord God, Your promise
to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people
as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me now
wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people,
for who can rule this great people of Yours?’ God
said to Solomon, ‘Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for
riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even
asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that
you may rule My people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give
you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before
you has possessed nor those who will come after you.’ So Solomon went from the high place which was at Gibeon, from
the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.”
God was so pleased with Solomon’s humble prayer,
He added riches and honor, on top of the wisdom!
The rest of 2 Chronicles 2 details more of
Solomon’s great wisdom.
Ezra – another great leader of Israel – was
attributed with being blessed with wisdom from God (Ezra 7:25).
In Job 28, we again see wisdom as belonging to
God, and it is “more valuable than pearls” or any other earthly treasure. It
closes with this: “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that
is wisdom; and to depart
from evil, that is understanding.’”
Job chapter 38 is so POWERFUL. God speaks here on
HIS wisdom! I encourage you to read this
entire passage. I especially love His statement in v. 36: “Who has put
wisdom in the innermost being or
given understanding to the mind?”
Oh, and one of my faves – Joshua! Oh what great obedience on display, what a
strong warrior for God. God gave Joshua
His Spirit of Wisdom (Deuteronomy 34:9, but read on thru the book of Joshua ;o)
HIS
PLEA TO US IS TO PURSUE HIS WISDOM: It is for our own good and protection; to
keep us from being “foolish” and making “foolish” mistakes. He wants (longs) to give it us. It is ours for the asking (see next point).
Proverbs
Chapter 1 – IT (HE, for HE IS WISDOM) – is crying out to us! Begging us to
pursue it and not fall victim to our own foolishness. IT (HE) IS THE GREATEST THING IN THIS LIFE
THAT WE CAN PURSUE.
Proverbs
Chapter 2 – Pursuing IT (HIM) brings security to our lives, as our hearts are
turned to gain understanding from God.
A favorite
passage on the benefits of wisdom: “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let
your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.
Do not let kindness and
truth leave you; bind
them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute
in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and do not lean on your
own understanding.
In all your
ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own
eyes;
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to
your body and refreshment
to your bones.” Proverbs 3:1-8
HOW DO
WE ATTAIN HIS WISDOM?
BY
ASKING…with a right (humble) heart and without reproach (a clean and repentant
heart; let God search/clean it).
James 1: 5-8:
“But if any of
you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously
and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he
must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is
like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from
the Lord, being a double-minded
man, unstable in all his ways.”
**He gives is generously and without reproach –
no harsh correction, no laugh. No request is too small or too big. From wisdom over finances to who I should
marry to where should I park the car or how can I best achieve __________
(whatever it is you are looking for).
We see many passages where God is constantly
inviting (longing) for us to come to Him. (Jeremiah 29:12-13, 33:3. Matthew
11:28, 20:32. Luke 18:16.)
Jeremiah 29:11-13: “‘For I know the plans that
I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a
future and a hope. Then you will call
upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for
Me with all your heart.’”
NOTE: THE RIGHT HEART.
Proverbs 1:23 says, “Turn to My reproof. Behold, I
will pour out My spirit on you; I will make My words known to you.”
Prior to a full surrender of my heart and life to
Jesus, I could not understand His Word (The Bible). It had things that sounded
right and good; but without a heart fully submitted to His Lordship, I could
not have His Spirit of wisdom (understanding) poured out on me. I still
mistakes, when I run on my own and do not submit to His lead/authority in the big
and little things of life, and when I don’t quickly ask Him to speak His truth
into a situation or an emotion.
I had (have) to repent of doing things my way,
and thinking I knew (know) best. I need to renounce my prideful ways. A full
surrender to His Lordship on my part: “God, I am done doing things my way and
fully surrender Lordship of my life to You.
Have Your way Lord. Teach me Your ways.”
Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.”
AGAIN, GOD PLEADS WITH US TO PURSUE WISDOM &
GAIN ITS REWARDS.
HE WARNS US OF THE DESTRUCTION FROM NOT PURSUING
WISDOM.
Immorality is one of the big downfalls HE warns against. It would be the
ruin of Solomon – his many wives (and concubines) and their foreign gods (which
God warned him against): disobedience to
what God told him (warned him of).
BOTH THE REWARDS OF PURSUING WISDOM (GOD), AND THE CALAMITY OF NOT PURSING IT (HIM) CAN BE FOUND IN THE BOOK OF PROVERBS. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU READ IT.
**GOD IS CALLING OUT TO US, ASKING US TO PURSE
HIM (WISDOM) **
Are we hearing Him or are we shutting Him out? Are we
resisting His Lordship and work in our lives?
Are we afraid that if we heed His voice we will lose control over our sinful
lifestyles, even though their end is destruction? Or is it our own flesh and
pride that may be saying “Its okay God, I got this one” or “Well, I am not as
bad as so and so, they ____, and I don’t do that.” ?
He is waiting for us to open the door to fellowship with Him. We can close the door by refusing to heed His
voice, but maybe it’s time to do what it takes (and is necessary) to re-open
that door. Or maybe you have never
really ever invited Him all the way in – now is the time….He promises to
come in and meet you.
“Those whom I love, I reprove and
discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. Behold,
I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the
door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My
throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His
throne.” Revelation 3:19-21
Closing note:
Throughout His Word, God tells us to “pursue wisdom”. It is an active, constant action. Do it daily.
Each morning invite Him in to be Lord of all – your thoughts, your heart, your
soul. Be intentional, ask for His help. If
we can do this, oh, the benefits for us and future generations. May we live out
our pursuit of God, so that the next generation would desire and learn to
wholeheartedly pursue Him as well.
This will help you fulfill the Greatest and FIRST
commandment, given by Jesus Himself: “But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the
Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord
your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost
commandment.” Matthew 22:34-38
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