Random snippets about wisdom:
According to Scripture, wisdom is very important.
"...encourage the young men to live wisely in all they do." Titus 2:6
"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and apply ing your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding...then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." Proverbs 2 (beginning)
A couple of definitions for wisdom:
"Wisdom is applied knowledge."
"Wisdom is knowing what God wants you to do in a situation."
Reflections about wisdom.
Wisdom is something I desire to have. Why? Several reasons. First, I don't want to do stupid stuff. Wisdom protects from the consequences of stupid or sinful actions. Second, I realize that the consequences of wrong decisions affect more than just myself. Family, Friends, and those in my fellowship of Faith are affected by right or wrong choices I make. The third and perhaps most powerful motivator is related to the first two (especially the second). Leadership requires wisdom. God has appointed me a leadership role in a local church. As a pastor, I need God's wisdom in order to serve the awesome people I find myself in community with.
The pursuit of wisdom is not an empty pursuit when God is at the center of that pursuit. This is the message of Proverbs 2. The results of pursuing God and his truth are well worth the time spent in seeking. "Then you will understand what is right and just and fair - every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you." (Prov. 2:9-11) The passage continues to share some great results of obtaining wisdom (which I'd encourage you to check out).
So, what's the point of all this? Simple. Wisdom is well worth the effort it takes to obtain it.
I ask for you to say a prayer for me today that I will be a person of Godly wisdom. This will happen as I pursue God and his truth, and then apply that knowledge to life. As I do, I will bring God's life-giving truth to the people around me. It is what my family, friends, and those in my fellowship of faith deserve because they are valuable to me and to God.
Thanks for reading. Lord, bless my friends with your wisdom as they pursue you and your truth. Amen.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Established Heart
A few sermons have really gotten under my skin lately. These sermons have forced me to investigate my heart. The first was by John Hall. The title was "Cold" and the Scriptural passage was Revelation chapter 2:1-5. He pointed out that the Ephesian church had left her first love which is Christ. The second sermon was by Brian Houston of Hillsong Church in Sydney Australia. It was about being "all-hearted" as opposed to "half-hearted". He focused on Psalm 112:8 which says of the godly man, "His heart is established". I love the sense of spiritual stability of that phrase.
Where does this kind of inner strength come from? What is its source? Psalm 112:1 and 7 provide context for verse 8. "Blessed is the man who fears the Lord…" (v.1) "He confidently trusts the Lord to care for him." (v.7) In other words, a steadfast or established heart is based in a relationship with our "first love" (Rev. 2:4).
What is my heart established toward? What things am I certain about at the core of who I am? In taking the time to ponder these questions, I discovered that my heart is established toward my family, my Savior, my calling in life, and my beliefs. Taking time to examine my deepest convictions has resulted in a renewed focus in my life, with my first love at the center.
How about you? What is your heart established toward? I would encourage you to consider asking yourself this question. It is worth the time it takes to ensure that you are all-hearted for Christ. If you aren’t sure, ponder the message of these two sermons I have briefly shared with you. Putting Jesus Christ at the center of life will bring a sense of inner strength and security to your life. Let us be a people of established hearts, trusting confidently in the Lord, our first love. Amen.
Where does this kind of inner strength come from? What is its source? Psalm 112:1 and 7 provide context for verse 8. "Blessed is the man who fears the Lord…" (v.1) "He confidently trusts the Lord to care for him." (v.7) In other words, a steadfast or established heart is based in a relationship with our "first love" (Rev. 2:4).
What is my heart established toward? What things am I certain about at the core of who I am? In taking the time to ponder these questions, I discovered that my heart is established toward my family, my Savior, my calling in life, and my beliefs. Taking time to examine my deepest convictions has resulted in a renewed focus in my life, with my first love at the center.
How about you? What is your heart established toward? I would encourage you to consider asking yourself this question. It is worth the time it takes to ensure that you are all-hearted for Christ. If you aren’t sure, ponder the message of these two sermons I have briefly shared with you. Putting Jesus Christ at the center of life will bring a sense of inner strength and security to your life. Let us be a people of established hearts, trusting confidently in the Lord, our first love. Amen.
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