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Tag: Wisdom

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 16 (10/16) is Matthew 10:16

    “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, 
    be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” – Matthew 10:16
    WISDOM FOR DEALING WITH “WOLVES”

    In Matthew 10:16 Jesus imparts wise instructions to His disciples who will be facing tremendous dangers as they serve Him. He gives them a very graphic picture of what ministering in a world that hates them is by telling them they are SHEEP in the midst of WOLVES. One can sense the dangers, cannot one?  Wolves love to devour sheep.

    So with the pending danger, Jesus says THEREFORE since I am sending you into the danger zone one must be WISE in order to not get killed.  To convey being WISE Jesus chooses another very graphic illustration by strangely pointing one to the SERPENT, to a SNAKE. While we may immediately think of a serpent as dangerous, they are actually acutely aware that they themselves are always in danger. Because of the DANGER of losing their lives, they are very ALERT and CAUTIOUS. They anticipate danger. I think Jesus gives us the serpent as an example of being wise when dealing with dangerous people because they USE their heads so they don’t lose their heads.   

    There is a sad truth as we will work and minister with people of the “world’ and “worldly” people that we must recognize that they do not always have our best interests in mind.  Matter of fact they will look to harm you.  You, therefore, must be wise and not get trapped – or worse destroyed. 

    Jesus also teaches here to think of yourself as a DOVE. (Talk about contrast.  A snake and a dove are so totally different.)  As a dove, you are not going to harm. As one is wise to deal with danger one is careful to not harm the one they are dealing with. The persecutor still needs the plan of salvation. The problem maker still needs the Savior! The one hurting still needs help.  We do not want to attack our attackers.  While being threatened with harm, we don’t harm.

    As you serve the Lord and minister to people Jesus teaches us to BE WISE and BE GENTLE.  

    You say this is tough. And it is.
    BTW – Whoever told you ministry was supposed to be easy?
    So get involved in reaching people for Jesus, going out like a serpent with wisdom and a dove with gentleness!

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 16 (10/16) is Matthew 10:16. It says, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”

    You will be wise to implement Jesus’ instruction as you navigate the danger zone!

    Continue Strong with wisdom and gentleness.
    And remember to DATE The WORD!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 8 (10/8) is Proverbs 10:8

    “A wise heart receives (accepts) commands, but 
    foolish lips will be destroyed.” – Proverbs 10:8
    ACQUIRE WISDOM!  ACCEPT WISDOM!  APPLY WISDOM! 

    As one reads God’s Word you have decisions to make regarding what you will do with it.  Reading, as well as learning God’s Word is not enough.  You can check off that you read 1 chapter from Proverbs, 5 chapters from Psalms, 3 chapters from the Old Testament, and/or 1 chapter from the New Testament today but still be no different. You can study and learn incredible amounts of information about God’s Word yet not be impacted one bit.  You have to decide as you read and learn whether to RECEIVE or REJECT what God has said.  The wise person will ACQUIRE Biblical wisdom and the wise person will ACCEPT that wisdom and then the wise person will APPLY the wisdom. The wise person is not just a hearer (reader/learner) but a doer of the Word. 

    However, as you read and learn God’s word you can be a foolish person.  The foolish person does NOT ACCEPT what God has to say.  The foolish person is a know-it-all and will begin to ARGUE with God.  They REJECT to the level of REFUSING to obey God’s commands.  

    Decisions have consequences.   You make your choices and then your choices make you.  To argue and reject what God’s commandments say is to bring destruction into your life as sin destroys over time.  

    You might easily be connecting the Sermon on the Mount by Jesus to this verse as Jesus speaks of the wise man hearing and doing and the foolish man only hearing. The wise man’s life is compared to a solid home that withstands storms while the foolish man’s life is like a house on sifting sands and will crumble.  

    Getting personal: Are you acquiring God’s wisdom, accepting God’s wisdom, and applying God’s wisdom to daily living? 

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 8 (10/8) is Proverbs 10:8.  It says, “A wise heart receives (accepts) commands, but foolish lips will be destroyed.”

    Be WISE and MAKE THE DECISION to RECEIVE God’s Commands. Don’t be a fool and REJECT God’s commands. 

    Continue Strong APPLYING God’s Wisdom to your life!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on September 18 (9/18) is Ecclesiastes 9:18

    “Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one
    sinner destroys much good.” – Ecclesiastes 9:18
    Reading through Ecclesiastes one will read a number of verses that are called contrastive verses.  They are easily recognizable as they will have the words “better than” or “but.”  Here we have a contrastive verse that has both “better than” and “but.”  Ecclesiastes 9:18 is one of those verses that demand we pause to ponder and let the verse challenge our thinking about how we live.

    Pause then to ponder that WISDOM is BETTER THAN WEAPONS OF WAR.  

    Can you picture the contrast?

    Wisdom here means to have skills, and, in this case, it would be skills of diplomacy as well as skills of preparation.  Diplomacy seeks to resolve issues rather than allowing for the issue to divide and dissolve which could then lead to massive destruction and death.  Wisdom also brings to the table the skills to prepare so that one is protected.  The concept of PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH comes to mind.  

    WEAPONS OF WAR.  Can you picture them?  While there is a time for war (Eccl. 3:8) one must know how horrific the weapons of war will be.  Diplomacy and defense are BETTER THAN the destructiveness of war.

    BUT.  There is another contrast in this verse that tells us that even as wisdom is sought so that wars are not started ONE, yes, just ONE sinner can destroy much good.   What a warning.  This warning is not just for a nation or nations but for a couple or a family or a church or any organization.  ONE sinner bent on having their own way brings about destruction.  Arrogance, pride, and ego contaminate the good work others are seeking to do!  

    Practical application: Wisdom says SEEK TO RESOLVE and be very SLOW to DISSOLVE! 

    To those who lead, be it family, church, businesses, government, etc. you must be on guard for the ONE who can poison the good work!  Recall the story of Achan in Joshua 6 and 7.  

    And for a non-biblical illustration recall the story of Archimedes, the greatest mathematician who did so much good for Syracuse and the world yet was killed in an instant by an angry soldier.  

    Our verse to DATE the Word on September 18 (9/18) is Ecclesiastes 9:18. It says, “Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good.”

    Continue Strong seeking to resolve relationships, not dissolve them.  
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on August 8 (8/8) is Proverbs 8:8

    “All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;
    Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.” – Proverbs 8:8
    God’s Wisdom is TRUSTWORTHY

    The book of Proverbs is known primarily for PROVIDING wisdom.  It is the “go-to book” for getting heavenly insights for earthly living.  To open Proverbs is to open a treasure chest filled with teachings to guide a person to make decisions that bring life to their life as opposed to making decisions that destroy their life.   It is interesting though that as helpful as wisdom is to us wisdom itself believes it must make numerous appeals to the reader to get wisdom.   From the first chapter up through chapter 9, Proverbs will be both revealing wisdom to the reader while purposefully pausing to appeal and, if you will, advertising heavily to the reader on why they should be acquiring and applying wisdom.  As you come to Proverbs 8 you will find a chapter that is almost completely about the benefits of wisdom.  Let us notice just a few of the verses starting at verse 1 to see how wisdom first appeals to us and then how she presents herself. 

    Proverbs 8:1 (the appeal) Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice?  2 (the availability) She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, beside the way, where the paths meet. 3  She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entrance of the doors: 4  “To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
    5  O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart.
    6 (her advertisement) Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things; 7  For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
    8  All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.

    As we look at Proverbs 8:8, wisdom wants the reader to know that what you will receive is right and completely trustworthy.  She tells of her words being spoken with righteousness and this connects her words to the character of God who is righteous.  They are pure words.  These are true words that can be trusted.  

    A great way to understand Proverbs 8:8 is to restate that there is no FAKE NEWS with wisdom.  There will be nothing misleading with wisdom. Wisdom says what it means and means what she says.  When wisdom is applied it will work. The path that wisdom puts you on gets you to the correct destination.  You can TRUST WISDOM.

    Wisdom not only has appealed to us it has gone the extra mile to explain and justify her very character so that you can TRUST what is said to you.  The choice is now yours as to whether to acquire her with all diligence and then apply what she teaches.  

    Our verse to DATE the Word on August 8 (8/8) is Proverbs 8:8. It says, “All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.”

    Continue Strong knowing you can trust God’s wisdom,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on August 1 (8/1) is Proverbs 8:1

    “Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice?” – Proverbs 8:1
    WISDOM IS CALLING

    From the start of the Book of Proverbs, WISDOM will APPEAL to ALL, anyone and everyone, anywhere and everywhere to ACQUIRE and ATTAIN her as, listen, she is readily AVAILABLE!  For instance, Proverbs 1:20-21 says, “Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares.  She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city.”  Wherever people are WISDOM IS CALLING.

    WISDOM is so convinced we need her that she states without any reservation that we should make getting (ATTAINING) wisdom our top priority.  Proverbs 4:7 say, “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore, get wisdom and in all your getting, get understanding.”  WISDOM IS CALLING!

    Why is getting WISDOM so essential? What does it provide?  As wisdom makes its numerous APPEALS it also tells of the ADVANTAGES one will have in living a life.  Wisdom can be defined as having a SKILL.  The wisdom that is found in Proverbs is described as Heaven’s instructions to give us the skills needed for earthly living. When heaven’s instructions are applied one has the various skills, the various abilities needed to live life the way God intended life to be lived. 

    Twice in Proverbs, we have very scary verses as both Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 says “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”  Wisdom is going to show us the RIGHT way that leads to life rather than death.  Pay close attention to how Proverbs 8 concludes. Proverbs 8:35 says, “For whoever finds me (WISDOM) finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD; 36  But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.”

    Are you hearing the call from wisdom?  Are you hearing the cry of wisdom?  Wisdom, heavenly instructions for earthly living, is AVAILABLE to YOU!  I appeal to you to answer wisdom’s call and acquire and apply wisdom to your life!

    PRACTICAL APPLICATION: A way to answer the call of wisdom is by reading and studying the book of Proverbs. A way to do this is by reading one chapter a day.  I like to suggest reading the chapter that matches the day of the month.  With today being August 1 read Proverbs 1.  Then on August 2 read Proverbs 2.  Do this for each day of August!  BTW – Early in my walk with the Lord I received this great advice and I wholeheartedly believe it to be some of the greatest advice I could ever give you. I hope it will become a spiritual habit in your life!

    The wisest decision you will make is to GET WISDOM!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on August 1 (8/1) is Proverbs 8:1. It says, “Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice?”

    Wisdom is calling to you.  Will you answer her call?

    Continue strong making it a priority to get the principal thing,
    And remember to DATE the Word

    Bonus – PROVERBS 1
    1  The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
    2  To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,
    3  To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;
    4  To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion—
    5  A wise [man] will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
    6  To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.
    7  The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge, [But] fools despise wisdom and instruction.
    8  My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;
    9  For they [will be] a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck.
    10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.
    11  If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to [shed] blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
    12  Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
    13  We shall find all [kinds] of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil;
    14  Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse” —
    15  My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path;
    16  For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.
    17  Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird;
    18  But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives.
    19  So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.
    20  Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares.
    21  She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words:
    22  “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge.
    23  Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.
    24  Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
    25  Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke,
    26  I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes,
    27  When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.
    28  “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
    29  Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD,
    30  They would have none of my counsel [And] despised my every rebuke.
    31  Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
    32  For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
    33  But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.”
  • Verse to DATE the Word on April 27 (4/27) is Proverbs 4:27

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 27 (4/27) is Proverbs 4:27

    “Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.”   – Proverbs 4:27
    TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION NOW

    Throughout the month of April, we have highlighted a number of verses from Proverb 4 as this is one of the most instructive chapters in the Bible on taking actions that bring life and prevent death.  It opens with an appeal to hear and be fully attentive to the instruction as the teaching is GOOD.  Proverbs 4:1-2 says “Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, 2 for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.”  Then comes the strongest advice to acquire wisdom as wisdom is the principal thing.  To live life the way God intended it to be lived one needs to get HIS INSIGHTS and INSTRUCTIONS.  These insights and instructions are called WISDOM!  

    As we move toward the end of the chapter, we learn how to stay spiritually healthy.  Proverbs 4:23 may be one of the most important verses we must learn and apply as we are told to GUARD our hearts with ALL DILIGENCE for out of it comes the very issues of life.  To guard our hearts calls for putting the right things in and keeping the wrong things out.  

    To be spiritually healthy we must be putting the WORD of God in our hearts.  

    To be spiritually healthy we must be watching our words, keeping our conversation clean, and telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth.  

    To be spiritually healthy we must be watching what we watch.  Just as we set a guard on our mouth, we set a guard on our eyes.  We make the commitment to set nothing wicked before our eyes.  (See Psalms 101:3)

    To be spiritually healthy we must be watching where we walk.  If we are to have the right practices we will need to be at the right places.  Too often we yield to temptation because we are at the wrong places.   Proverbs 4:26 tells us to PONDER OUR PATH so that we don’t put ourselves in places where we are prone to fall. 

    The chapter concludes with REMOVE YOUR FOOT FROM EVIL. We have here the call to take personal responsibility for all of our actions.  Based on the previous instructions the reader is now informed on what is RIGHT.  Now is the time to own your decisions.  Removing your foot from evil means to STOP DOING IT.  It means to CUT IT OUT!  It means to QUIT IT. 

    This closing call to take personal responsibility for yourself leaves no room for excuses.  Proverbs 4 has told of the damage that evil brings, and you have been told to AVOID the highway to hell.  Proverbs 4 has told of the benefits of walking on the path of righteousness.  

    The question now is how do you RESPOND?   What ACTIONS do you need to take NOW?

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 27 (4/27) is Proverbs 4:27.  It says, “Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.”  

    Continue Strong doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong,
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 21 (3/21) is Proverbs 3:21

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 21 (3/21) is Proverbs 3:21

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 21 (3/21) is Proverbs 3:21
    Proverbs 3:21 says, “My son, let them not depart from your eyes— Keep sound wisdom and discretion,”
     Acquire and APPLY sound wisdom and discretion!

    Every now and then I look at the Message to see the verse and the Message says, “Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don’t for a minute lose sight of them.” 

    Solomon appeals to his son to KEEP, or HOLD TIGHT TO, PROTECT, or GUARD sound wisdom and discretion.  Sound wisdom gives clear thinking as wisdom allows one to see and comprehend life from God’s perspective. We define wisdom as heavenly insights from God for earthly living.  Wisdom is doing life the way God intended life to be lived.  

    Discretion is compared to common sense.   Discretion is the ability to know the difference between right and wrong and then decide decisively to do what is right.  The root word for discretion is a word used for tasting.  The best cooks have very discerning taste buds.  They know what needs to be added to make food taste the very best.  Discretion allows us to choose carefully and wisely what is best. 

    BTW – one of the characteristics of a good man is DISCRETION: Psalm 112:5 says, “A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion.”

    Our lives are full of decisions and decisions determine destinations. 
    HOLD TIGHT TO WISDOM as wisdom shows you the RIGHT WAY!! 
    HOLD TIGHT TO DISCRECTION as it keeps one on the right road as there will be many options!!  
    **A word to those who desire to be wise and discerning: I recommend that you read one chapter a day from Proverbs as part of your spiritual exercises.  To apply wisdom, you need to acquire wisdom!   Make it a daily practice to read the chapter of Proverbs that matches the date of the month.  For instance, today is March 21 and on March 21 read Proverbs 21. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 21 (3/21) is Proverbs 3:21. It says, “My son, let them not depart from your eyes— Keep sound wisdom and discretion;”

    Continue Strong with wisdom and discretion guiding your decisions!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

     
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 9 (3/9) is 1 Kings 3:9

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 9 (3/9) is 1 Kings 3:9

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 9 (3/9) is 1 Kings 3:9
    1 Kings 3:9 says, “Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

    ASK FOR WISDOM!!

    King Solomon has been granted the grand prize of prizes in that he can ASK God for anything. The story of God’s offer to Solomon is found in 1 Kings 3:5-15.  Starting at verse 5 we read of the offer.  “At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”  

    Have you ever pondered how enormous this offer is? The One who OWNS it all (Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the LORD’S, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein) says Ask! What shall I give you? Solomon could ask for RICHES and WEALTH!  The One who is all POWERFUL; the One who is all KNOWING says, ASK! What shall I give you? Solomon could be asking for power and fame.  

    WHAT WOULD YOU BE ASKING FOR IF THIS WAS PRESENTED TO YOU?

    Before making his request, the passage shows us how Solomon came to make his request.  He confesses that he does not have the understanding nor wisdom nor discernment to be the leader that a king needs to have. 1 Kings 3:7 says, “Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.”  There is great humility here as Solomon is wise enough to know he is not wise enough.  

    Knowing that he does not know what he needs to know he makes the wisest of decisions to ask for understanding, discernment, yes, for WISDOM! While he could have asked for power yet he understood that without wisdom one could easily misuse power. He could have asked for wealth but without wisdom, one’s wealth would lose its value. He could have asked for fame but without wisdom fame and honor goes to one’s head bringing about arrogance. So instead of asking for things almost any human would have asked for he asked for wisdom.  Oh, the wisdom of asking for wisdom! 

    WHAT WOULD YOU BE ASKING FOR IF THIS WAS PRESENTED TO YOU?

    I place the question before you a second time because the truth of the matter is as believers every moment is living the Solomon dream because God has said through Pastor James in James 1:5 that if any man lacks wisdom LET HIM ASK GOD! Read it and read it again! James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” 

    Quick story: As my father-in-law was driving across several states on a long drive with his grandson he kept asking questions about the different things he was seeing.  To his surprise, his grandson was rattling off the answers. Being impressed at how smart his grandson was he complimented him. His grandson then revealed that he was simply entering the question into Google.  My father-in-law then said you might be stupid but there is now no reason to be ignorant since there is Google at your fingertips.

    Friends, it is true that with GOOGLE you have so much knowledge of things but more than not being ignorant I would say to you that you don’t have to be stupid!  You can ask GOD for WISDOM, wisdom for making life decisions!  

    I appeal to you to APPLY the wisdom that tells you to ASK and to ACQUIRE wisdom! Get into God’s Word where you will find wisdom for living.  One approach I take is to read a chapter a day from the book of Proverbs.  Today is the 9th day so I read Proverbs 9. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 9 (3/9) is 1 Kings 3:9. It says, “Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

    WISDOM says, ASK for wisdom and ACQUIRE wisdom, and APPLY wisdom!

    Continue Strong getting WISDOM from God!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD