wisdom

What Is Godliness? Part One

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1 Timothy 6:6 says, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” Our church’s small group is going through “Respectable Sins” by Jerry Bridges. His definition of godliness is like one I never heard before. It is living with the constant awareness of our need for the Lord.

It reminds me of John 15:5 that says, “…for without Me you can do nothing.” Yet how many times we live on auto pilot. We often make plans without consulting the Lord. 

I love David’s example. Here is a passage I frequently visit in  my mind. He was faced with a desperate situation. 2 Samuel 5:19 says, “So David inquired of the Lord…” and the Lord gave him specific directions.

Then the same scene was repeated. David did not go out on his own. Verse 23 says, “Therefore David inquired of the Lord…” and this time the Lord gave him a totally different direction. Both the same situations, but the Lord’s way was not the same.

Harvest Seed

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We are to plant with the harvest seed in mind. Though this was written about finances, think of your words as seeds. 2 Corinthians 9:10 in the Amplified says, “And (God) Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your (resources for) sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness…” 

Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Are your words producing life-giving seeds, or life-destroying weed seeds? Do folks shrink from the tone of your voiced words, or do they expectantly lean into taking the succulent fruit?

Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace…” Ecclesiastes 10:12 says, “The words of the wise man’s mouth are gracious…”

God’s Ways Are Unsearchable ~ Part One

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Isaiah 40 is a great chapter. I visit it when I need perspective. The words are so picturesque. Verse 12 says, “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountain in scales and the hills in a balance?”

Verse 25 says, “To whom then will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal? says the Holy One.” Verse 28 says, “…The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.”

Romans 11:33 says, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” 

Here is one I love. Job 26:14 says, “Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, and how small a whisper we hear of Him!…”

What Kind Of Fruit Are You Bearing?

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Proverbs 24:30-31 is a great illustration of what happens when we neglect the vineyard in our hearts. It says, “I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down.”

What a picture of fallow ground. At my old place, the back part of the property was fallow ground. It grew weeds that propagated weed seeds that wreaked havoc with my garden beds. Thistles and nettles were abundant.

Fruit that will glorify the Lord comes through our intimate communion with Him. It is in our quiet time with Him that He reveals the hidden weeds in our heart that choke out His word. Matthew 13:22 says of thorny fallow ground, that the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke His word ~ rendering us unfruitful.

The Power Of Understanding

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Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” In Proverbs 2:1-6, Solomon gave his son the bookends of gaining understanding ~ if, then.

“My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; 

yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, 

if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; 

then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.”

Understanding doesn’t come from just reading. What we read has to be applied. It becomes part of our heart’s belief system. As I read the above verses, I hear the Lord speaking to me. He wants me to receive and treasure His words in my heart.”

The Path Of Humility Is Strewn With Grace

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How is the path you are walking on? Proverbs 13:15 Amplified says, “Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the transgressor is hard (like the barren, dry soil or the impassable swamp).”

Here is the result of humility or pride. Proverbs 10:17 Amplified says, “He who heeds instruction and correction is (not only himself) in the way of life (but also) is a way of life for others. And he who neglects or refuses reproof (not only himself) goes astray (but also) causes to error and is a path toward ruin for others.”

What derails us? Our pride! I love James 3:13 in the Amplified. It says, “Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his (good) works with the (unobtrusive) humility (which is the proper attribute) of true wisdom.” The moment we fall into pride, we walk away from grace-provision.