Wisdom Of Life

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 13:11-13  Most people long to be understood. We may have many acquaintances, but we all have a deep need to feel truly known by those we love most. This is because we were created in God's image--He also desires to be intimately understood and loved by us. Just as you don't want to be known for only the superficial details of who you appear to be, it's not enough to know about the Lord. He wants us to learn how He thinks and feels, what's important to Him, and what His purposes are. Of course, it's impossible for man to completely know the mind of the Creator of the universe. In Isaiah 55:9 , He tells us, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." The depth and breadth of His mind is so great we will never be able to fully grasp it in this lifetime. However, we can better understand God's heart and character by seeking Him and learning d...

Receive Today's passage: Jeremiah 15:1-21 “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty.” Jeremiah 15:16 Reflect How can Scripture quench my spiritual thirst? Do I turn to the Bible even when I am discouraged and frustrated? Do I have faith that God is good, even when my circumstances aren't? Jeremiah didn't have an easy time of it. For 52 chapters we listen to him prophesize the same message over and over, a message that continued to fall on deaf ears. He urged his people to repent, to rid themselves of idols and false gods, and turn back to the one true God again and again--yet they never listened. Worse, they mocked him and imprisoned him, and still God asked Jeremiah to continue to prophesize the same message. No wonder he felt discouraged and frustrated; no wonder he doubted God's intentions and fell into despair. Yet through all his hardships, Jeremiah continu...

Receive Today's passage: John 1:1-5 “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”  John 1:3-5 Reflect How does God's Word expose darkness? Do I really live my life entirely in Jesus? Do I believe that God always overcomes darkness? If you've ever weathered a period of grief, illness, loss, anxiety, or despair, you probably know what it's like to doubt, to question if God really does have the power to overcome evil. Sometimes we are so lost in ourselves, in our own misery and grief, that it's difficult to see and feel God's ever-present goodness and love. We wonder where He is, why He has allowed such circumstances to occur, why He hasn't protected us from such misery. It's perfectly normal to feel this way from time to time, especially during periods of great strife...

Scriptures: Revelation 2:1-7 Ephesus was the home of a tremendous ministry. Despite harsh persecution, the church planted by Paul endured opposition, spread the gospel, and was quick to challenge false prophets. But 30 years after the apostle left, John’s revelation included a stern warning for those believers. Imagine how the words of Revelation 2 must have struck the Ephesians when they read them. After complimenting their service to the gospel, Christ said, “But I have this against you . . .” That phrase was no doubt extremely disconcerting. The Lord warned them that they had left their first love. In other words, all of their work was being done with wrong motives. Christ called the Ephesians to remember their love for Him and their delight in His salvation. Service is no substitute for an intimate relationship, but modern believers continue to fall into this subtle trap. The commendable things that we do count for nothing unless they stem from a vibrant personal ...

Receive Today's passage: Psalm 119:89-104 “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.”  Psalm 119:97-98 Reflect Am I pondering God's Word--meditating on it and committing it to memory? What is holding me back from memorizing Scripture? Fear? Laziness? Intimidation? What's one step I can take today that will help me keep God's Word top-of-mind throughout the day? It's one thing to commit to reading the Bible several times a week, and it's another thing to read it slowly and thoughtfully to discern what message God might intend for us. The writer of this psalm takes Scripture reading a step further, suggesting that we "meditate on it all day long."   Yet repeating a verse or Biblical phrase throughout the day doesn't necessarily need to be a daunting task. In fact it can serve as a tool that helps to keep us calm and level-headed as we f...

Scriptures: Psalms 33:3-11  The work God does is creative. He made heaven, earth, and all living creatures. He formed Adam and Eve in His image and knitted each of us in our mother's womb. His work is also powerful. Through His Son Jesus, He accomplished a great salvation for all who trust in the Savior. Our heavenly Father worked mightily to open a way for us to be reconciled to Him and adopted into His family. Not only that, but God's work is ongoing, and Jesus is the One who holds all things together (Col. 1:17) . In order to recognize God's handiwork, we need to pray in an active, persistent manner. Christ-centered prayers narrow our focus to the Lord. Then we can more readily identify His actions and see how to join Him. Self-centered petitions serve to distract us from Him. The Father also wants our heart and mind yielded to His will. Pursuing our own agenda shifts the focus to ourselves and makes us lose sight of the Lord. But a submissive attitude ...

Receive Today's passage: 2 Peter 1:12-21 “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”   2 Peter 1:20-21 Reflect Am I allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to me through Scripture? When I read the Bible, am I actively listening for God's special message for me? How do I know that it's God speaking to me and not me wanting to hear a particular message? Sometimes we doubt that the Bible actually has a particular, individualized message for us. After all, it's pretty antiquated--we wonder how something that was written thousands of years ago, in a completely different place and time, can still apply to and impact those of us living in the 21st century. What we forget, though, is that God cannot be boxed in to our definition and understanding of time. The God-breathed words that were ...

Scriptures: John 5:16-19   Throughout the Bible, we observe God at work in people's lives. Sometimes He acts in dramatic fashion, as in parting the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to escape the Egyptian army. At other times it may appear as if He's not taking any action. Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that their brother needed His help, but Christ delayed before traveling to their home (John 11:3-6) . Our Father has given us the Holy Spirit to help us recognize His presence and handiwork. The Spirit cultivates spiritual discernment in us so we can understand when and where He's at work. In addition to spiritual discernment, we must develop patience because the Lord operates according to His timetable, not ours. After being promised numerous descendants, Abraham had to wait until he and Sarah were beyond childbearing years before she conceived. Impatience can cause us to take matters into our own hands and make mistakes. The Lord's efforts can bri...

Receive Today's passage: Matthew 15:21-28 "Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." The woman came and knelt before him, "Lord, help me!" she said. He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs." "Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith. Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour."  Matthew 15:23-28 Reflect - Do I live as though Jesus loves me fully, no matter my imperfections and hang-ups? - Do I come to Jesus boldly, despite my flaws and insecurities? - Am I afraid to approach Jesus for what I really need? Sometimes we feel like we need to wait until the perf...

Scriptures: Psalms 25:4-5  When you're facing a decision, whether big or small, it is important to wait upon God for His direction and timing. And though it may sound paradoxical, there are three ways that we can take an active role in the process while we wait. First , we should examine our heart, asking the Holy Spirit to expose any wrongs. If He brings something to light, it is important to take care of that sin immediately--by confessing, repenting, and doing whatever's needed to correct the situation. At times we push this task aside because the impending decision seems like our main concern. Yet we cannot hear from God or receive His full blessing until we deal with transgression. Second , when seeking direction, we should listen patiently and attentively for the Lord to give the go-ahead. It can be difficult to wait, especially when emotions or logic lead us to favor one choice. Third , the answer to our prayer at times requires our involvement. For i...

Scriptures: Proverbs 4:20-27   The most obvious source of godly wisdom is the Bible. You cannot think of a question or life circumstance about which God’s Word is silent. His principles for right character, conduct, and conversation apply to every situation and decision confronting human beings. We’re all able to recall times when we didn’t respond wisely. Those incidents can be traced back to one of two possibilities—either we didn’t know a certain biblical principle or we knew the principle that applied but chose to ignore or violate it. To ensure that we’ are familiar with God’s standards and the importance of following them, we’ve got to dig into His Word. For example, suppose that you walk into the office and a coworker verbally assaults you with undeserved blame for a costly mistake. Your flesh and the world would have you respond in kind with anger and malice. But Luke 6:27-29 offers a different approach, that might go something like this: “Is there anything...

Scriptures: Psalms 34:1-3    Glorifying the Lord is not limited to worshipping in church. In fact, praise ought to permeate the believer’s life. One obvious way that we praise the Lord is with our voice. We can either speak or sing our worship. Psalm writers put adoration into words and set their love to music. True worship also flows from the mouths of believers who are focused upon God’s attributes. They desire to honor Him because of who He is, what He has done, and what He has promised for the future. Genuine worship allows the Lord to fill our hearts and minds with His presence. But praising the Lord with wrong motives is an empty act. For example, if we’re lifting our hands and singing loud only because doing so feels good, then what we’re after is an emotional high. That kind of selfish “praise” falls far short of heaven. Our God is praised when we serve Him. People are created for the purpose of bringing glory and honor to His name. Therefore, nothin...

Receive Today's passage: Malachi 4:1-3   "But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall."  Malachi 4:2, ESV Reflect => What healing touch do I need from the Lord?  => Can I envision a time when I will be entirely free from the bondage of sin? What do I imagine that kind of exhilarating joy and freedom feel like? Although Malachi is referring to a time when we will be free from all sin for eternity, God gives us glimpses of such freedom in the here and now. Handing over our hearts, minds, and souls to God, relinquishing control and surrendering to Him, and putting our whole lives into His hands allows us a breath of that peace, joy, and freedom. Like the healing warmth of the sun's rays, God wraps us in His warm embrace and willingly takes our burdens from us. We simply need to allow Him in. Respond Ask for change : Lord...

Scriptures: Luke 24:36-49   Salvation occurs when we trust Jesus as our Savior--He forgives us, transforms us, and sees us as righteous. In that moment, we are redeemed, and though we continue to struggle with sin, it is a defeated foe. Then as time goes on, our service, gifts, and love for Him should naturally become greater. Unfortunately, a lot of Christians sit in church week after week, going through the motions yet lacking passion and failing to grow. How is such a thing possible? Tragically, many believers are unaware of the essential ministry of God's Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a member of the Trinity and co-equal with God the Father and God the Son. The opening chapter of Scripture tells us that He existed before the formation of the earth and in fact participated in creation (Gen. 1:2, 26). Today, He has the critical role of helping and counseling all believers. The Holy Spirit is a gift to every child of God . His presence within us isn't someth...

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27   What words would you use to describe our society? Materialistic, sensual, impatient, indulgent, undisciplined--these are just a few. We're also a "have it now" culture. Satan specializes in presenting us with opportunities for instant gratification while promising us that indulging our appetites will bring us the satisfaction we seek. Human appetites, in themselves, are not sinful. In fact, they're God-given. However, because of our fleshly weaknesses, they need to be controlled. When our appetites rule us, we're in trouble. Paul likened the Christian life to that of athletes who are so focused on winning the race that they exercise self-control in every area of their lives. That's exactly how we're called to live, yet we lack the motivation, determination, and power to do so in our own strength. For this reason, we need to rely on the Holy Spirit within us. If we yield our lives to Him and step out in o...

Receive Today's passage: James 1:13-15   “When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”  James 1:13-15 Reflect * Which enticements are the most difficult for me to resist? * How do these enticements turn my head away from God? * Do I ever feel like I am being dragged towards temptation almost against my will, like it is a force beyond my power? Our desires--whether for money, sex, fame, power, possessions, success, or prestige--are incredibly powerful forces. So powerful, in fact, that they often succeed, as these verses say, in "dragging us away" from what is right and good. Our desires literally turn our hearts and minds away from God toward evil. That's why it's so im...

Scriptures: Genesis 25:29-34    You probably read the story of Jacob and Esau today and thought, I can't believe Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. How foolish! But let's think beyond birthrights and soup. Is there anything of true value that you are trading for something of lesser worth? In other words, what is your "bowl of soup"? Have you pursued wealth and a career at the expense of family? Maybe your busy schedule has kept you from spending time with God in His Word each day. Some people become involved in extramarital affairs, trading the well-being of their family for the satisfaction of lustful desires. Others sacrifice their health by consuming harmful or addictive substances, or even by overindulging in food. The list of ways we make foolish, shortsighted choices is endless. Some of the decisions we make today could rob us of the blessings God wants to give us. When you yield to temptation in a moment of weakness, you're actuall...

Scriptures: Ephesians 3:14-21  Have you ever wondered if you are a "whole person"? We all have struggles in life that could make us feel incomplete, but the apostle Paul says we can be "filled up to all the fullness of God" (v. 19). What does that look like? A "whole person" is generally satisfied with life. He feels loved and is able to love others in return. Difficulties and hardships don't devastate him, because he is able to go through them with confidence in God. He isn't a complainer or someone who is quick to blame others. A positive attitude guards his mind since he knows that the Lord will work everything out for good (Rom. 8:28) . Being a Christian doesn't automatically make us feel complete. Fullness comes only when we experience God's love for us. For many years, I knew theologically that the Lord loved me. I even preached about it, but I didn't really feel it. Only after I took a deep look at my life and ...

Scriptures: Revelation 4:9-11  In our culture, God’s name is oftentimes mentioned with little reverence. In fact, many people actually use it as a curse. Even among those who love Him, it is far too common to use His name casually, without taking time to ponder who He is. When you say a blessing at mealtimes, for instance, do you realize that you are talking to the almighty Creator God who rules over all things? Our view of the Lord impacts three areas of life. First , it affects our prayers. As we come to know Him better and better, our desires will start to look like His goals for us, and our petitions will align more closely with His purposes. Furthermore, as we recognize His greatness and power, we’ll become more confident that He can accomplish mighty things—and we will venture to “pray big.” Second , our understanding of His righteousness and goodness influences our behavior. If God has these attributes, surely it is in our best interest to obey gladly. We...

Receive Today's passage: Hosea 6:1-3  “Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”  Hosea 6:3 Reflect What must I do to return to the Lord and begin to acknowledge Him again? Is there a particular sin in my life that is inhibiting me from pursuing true communion with God? What can I do to press on in pursuit of the Lord in times of spiritual drought? Sometimes it seems as if God is slow to appear, even when it feels like we are pursuing Him wholeheartedly. Why isn't God answering my prayers? we might wonder. "Why don't I feel close to God right now?" we might ask. It may be that a sin in our life has opened a chasm between us and God. Perhaps we need to be honest with ourselves, and with Him, by confessing this sin and asking for forgiveness. On the other hand, there are also times when we...

Receive Today's passage: Isaiah 55:8-13. "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."  Isaiah 55:10-11 Reflect :  Do I truly care about God's thoughts and ways? Do I truly believe that His direction can make a concrete difference in my life? Am I willing to read the Bible with an open heart and mind in order to discern what God wants from me? God is clear about how He see His Word working in our lives. As the rain nourishes the soil, feeding plants and crops that will grow to sustain those who harvest them, God's Word nourishes our souls, feeding us so that we will grow and flourish and sustaining us through periods of drought and difficulty. Wha...

Scriptures: Isaiah 64:1-4   The Lord is a God of action. Even when He rested on the seventh day of creation, it wasn't because He was tired and needed to recuperate. Although He deliberately made a choice to stop His creative activity, He never ceased working. While the Lord is always controlling the universe, He is, at the same time, intimately involved with individual lives. God has a plan for each one of us and wants us to know what it is. Every time we take a step of obedience, He sheds more light on our path. But sometimes He asks us to pause awhile, and we may not know why. We long for direction in a particular matter, but our prayers just aren't being answered, and we wonder, Why does He delay? When you aren't seeing any answers, it doesn't mean that God is not working. He's still actively involved in your life, but He works in ways that are not always visible He orchestrates circumstances, changes people's hearts, and protects His childre...

Scriptures: Romans 12:1-5   God's kindness to us is demonstrated by the fact that He doesn't leave us in the condition we were in before coming to faith . How tragic it would be if we still thought, felt, and acted the same way we did before receiving Christ as our Savior. Throughout our lives, the Lord uses His choice tools to shape us into the image of His Son. Prayer . By talking to the Lord in open dialogue, we develop a relationship with Him. He becomes not just our Savior, but our friend, and as the intimacy grows, so will our passion to be with Him. Setting aside time for prayer each day will become a delight, not a duty. God's Word . You can't grow in your Christian life if you keep the Bible closed all week long. No one lives on one meal a week, yet many Christians try to get by with just a Sunday dinner of the Word served up by their pastor. How can we expect God's truth to do its transforming work if we never let it into our minds and hear...

Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24   It's amazing but true that God's grand plan for your life is far greater than you can imagine. In fact, this earth-bound existence has us so preoccupied with the demands of life that most of us give little thought to what it will mean to be completely sanctified. In the Christian life, sanctification is a three-stage process. At the moment of salvation, God sets us apart for Himself. Then throughout the rest of our earthly life, He works to transform us into the image of His Son. One day, however, there will be a glorious culmination to our sanctification. Presently, we all struggle with sin, but when we die, our spirits and souls will ascend to heaven and be completely sinless. Then we'll see our Savior face to face and experience unimaginable joy. No longer will we struggle with the pride of life or the lusts of the flesh and the eyes (1 John 2:16) . However, as great as this will be, it's not yet the final step. S...

S criptures: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8  Did you know that God didn't save you just to keep you from hell and get you into heaven? His top priority while you are here on earth is to shape you into the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29) . But at this stage of our sanctification, He doesn't do it all for us. We have a responsibility to cooperate with Him and actively participate in the process. Yet many Christians have a passive attitude about the life of faith. They tolerate sin and smooth it over with the age-old excuse, "Nobody's perfect!" When you received Christ as your Savior, you took the first step in your walk with Him--a walk that will last the rest of your life. However, you also stepped into spiritual warfare with Satan. The Enemy may have lost your soul, but he's going to do everything he can to hinder, sidetrack, and discourage you. The last thing he wants is a saint who's on fire for the Lord and useful in the kingdom. But many believers...

Scriptures: Matthew 25:34-40   Stop for a moment and consider the purpose of your life. Are you living to pursue your own interests or success? Does your energy revolve around your family members? Perhaps your ambition is to change the world for the better. All of these aims—even the last one, which sounds so selfless—are futile. The only goal of lasting value and fulfillment is serving Christ. As His followers, we should model our life after His. And Mark 10:45 tells us that "even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve .” We honor Him by doing likewise. Yet, sometimes we can feel overwhelmed when we consider the amazing ways that other believers are serving the Lord. With God on His side, King David led great armies into war. Today, there are evangelists who speak to tens of thousands, and many lives are saved. How could anything we do compare to accomplishments like these? And while comparisons may discourage us, Christians use other excuses ...

Receive Today's passage: 2 Timothy 3:10-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17 Reflect In my heart of hearts, do I trust God's Word? Why, if I know that reading the Bible can make a concrete difference in my life, do I often relegate it to the last priority in my day? What can I do to make Scripture-reading the first priority in my life? So often we fail to make Scripture a priority. We succumb to our hectic schedules and busy lives while the Bible sits unopened on our nightstands and book shelves. We tell ourselves that we'll get to it later, when we have more time, when life slows down. Yet a close look at these verses clearly details the necessity of Scripture-reading in our daily lives. Delving into God's Word on a regular basis teaches us, guides us, corrects us, inspires us...

Receive Today's passage: 1 Peter 2:19-25 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:24-25 Reflect If running toward God is how we grow spiritually--especially in times of insurmountable challenges--then what is holding me back from doing that? Why does it sometimes feel like I am taking two steps forward and one step back in my faith? What happens when I feel as if I've returned to God, but then I err again ... and again? Once we've made that transformational turn toward God--the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls-- it's easy to assume that the path will always be straight or that that we will no longer be faced with precipitous curves along the road. But the fact that we have proclaimed our faith doesn't ensure that we will live without sin or...