December 28 – Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding

“Daniel said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding.” – Daniel 2:20-21 (NASB)

As we continue seeking and finding promises from God in each book of the Bible, we come to Daniel. Daniel was one of the young men who were taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. One night the king of Babylon had a disturbing dream he couldn’t remember. His own council of wise men failed to tell him the dream or its meaning. Daniel was called upon for the task. God revealed to Daniel both the king’s dream and its meaning. Daniel didn’t claim any credit for he believed in God in heaven could reveal this mystery (Daniel 2:28). We find a promise for all and all time in these words by Daniel to the king. God is absolutely sovereign over all people and all things. We sometimes hear “times have changed” as an excuse for our thought and behavior.  Yes times change but God never changes nor does His Word. When times change it is God who allows them to be changed or changes them. All wisdom, knowledge, and understanding comes from our Lord God. God removes and sets up the world leaders, even those who despise God. Nothing that is has ever surprised God.

 

198

 

November 2 – Living Out the Life

“My son, do not lose sight of these—keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.” -  Proverbs 3:21-23 (ESV)

 

We might take a moment to think about how much our appearance is important to us. We, well most anyway, apply some effort to ‘look presentable’ in degrees from slight to excessive. While such effort has an effect on our outward appearances, we ought to put some thought into how we might appear according to our inner-self. This is best accomplished by observing today’s cautions. That is to maintain sound wisdom and discretion and not let them drop from our sight or attention. The promise, if we do is life for our soul and ‘adornment for our neck.’  The Hebrew word for ‘adornment’ speaks of maintaining a graceful or gracious attitude toward others. Such an effort will look good on our lives. People will notice that we are people who offer grace to others. Such people tend to be humble and popular because of their manner that shines from within. Additionally, there is a promise that such ‘adornment’ being as obvious as an attractive medallion hanging around our neck provides security and stability in our daily walk. This is the means to a life above reproach which is manifesting the grace of God in our lives.

 

194

 

November 1 – Seeking Leads to Blessing

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,” – Proverbs 3:13 (ESV)

Our promise in this verse from Proverbs 3 is for a blessing or to be blessed. Often the word ‘happy’ is used as a synonym for ‘blessed. By understanding that ‘blessedness’ is a mark of supreme and perfect happiness, then this interpretation should fit. Seeking to be blessed is a good desire and action. We caution to not understand this ‘happiness’ the same as the what our world seems to offer up when a person is said to be happy. Such happiness is often the result of self-centered motivation. Blessed is deeper and much more rewarding. Who it is that receives this promise in fullness?  It’s the ones who ‘find’ wisdom. It’s not an accidental or chance finding such as when we find money on the sidewalk. The greater meaning of the Hebrew word for find has the sense of ‘reaches’ what one wants through purposeful ‘seeking.’ The reward of blessing is ours by acquiring the understanding of the wisdom we seek. Of course we seek to find wisdom because we need the understanding and we ‘get’ or ‘draw out’ by digging for that understanding. We are blessed with the result of our search.  

194

September 26 – One Fitting Boast

“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1 :30-31 (ESV)

Man trusts in his understanding and seeks for peace and by its own devices apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. Even when converted, they trust in their education and look at the Words and Cross of Christ with too little reverence and love. For them the call to believing faith it is too simplistic. Like the Greeks of antiquity, they trust their reason above God’s wisdom and fall into mixing God’s revelation with their learned philosophies. When they find that the two cannot fit together, they dismiss revelation and faith. So, when they stumble over the simplicity of the truth of Christ crucified they create one of their own to suit their “intellectual” understanding. In the early church such teaching was false and lead into Gnosticism* giving birth to many heresies still plaguing seekers today. As faith believers we are redeemed and not only are given salvation by God’s wisdom, rather than by our own, but we are also graciously given (“by His doing”) a measure of His divine wisdom, as well as imputed righteousness, sanctification from sin, and redemption by God in order that, above all else, the Lord will be glorified.

193

*GNOSTICISM: A variety of second-century AD religions whose participants believed that people could only be saved through revealed knowledge, or γνῶσις (gnōsis). Gnostics also held a negative view of the physical or material world. Early church fathers, such as Irenaeus, deemed Gnosticism heretical.

NOTE ON OUR ABSENCE: 90 Seconds with God’s Promised missed posting for three days. This was due to illness for 5 days that kept us from the process. God is good and the publication of these daily devotions is possible only by the grace and mercies of God and when done is only for His Glory.

 

August 4 – Acquire Wisdom, Receive Honor

“The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her.” – Proverbs 4:7-8 (NASB)

Our verse today is included by Solomon as a lesson he was taught by his father David. In the larger context of verses 3-9 we find an urgency in the lesson he is teaching. Of utmost importance, this lesson stresses the acquisition of wisdom. We hear much of the value and importance of getting and clinging to wisdom in these Proverbs and especially in the first nine chapters. After the importance of acquiring wisdom, we are instruction to acquire understanding. In the last chapter Proverbs 3:5-6 we have the lesson to trust in the Lord with all our being and to not lean on our own understanding. But here we are to lean on the understanding that comes with the wisdom of God. We are warned to not turn away from what we learn here and to not forsake wisdom for guarding the wisdom from God provides us with a guard and a watch over our ways of thinking and acting. The more highly one esteems wisdom, the more highly wisdom lifts that person. If we place the importance of God’s Wisdom that comes from His Word as a treasure in our heart we will receive honor from wisdom.

199

April 5 – Ask and Receive

“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.” – James 1:5 (NASB)

Too often perhaps if even once, we are prone to expect to receive what we are “owed” or “due.” The faulty thought that leads to this includes the idea that we don’t need to ask to receive what we are entitled to. We speak out only when we feel disenfranchised. Continuing the lessons and promises from the book of James, we find this command is a necessary part of the believer’s prayer life. When we need wisdom we are to ask God to give it to us for God has wisdom in abundance available and He is eager to provide it for those who seek it. God intends that trials will drive those who believe to a greater dependency on Him. They show us our own insufficiency. James’ Jewish audience recognized this as the understanding and practical skill that is necessary to live life to God’s glory. It was not wisdom of philosophical speculation, but wisdom contained in the pure and peaceable absolutes of God’s will revealed in His Word and lived out. It is only this divine wisdom from God that enables believers to rejoice and be submissive in the trials and testing of our lives.

197

January 20 – Wisdom and Revelation

“(I) do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him..” Ephesians 1:16-17 (NASB)

We can imagine that one of the greatest blessings we might experience in the first century would be the Apostle Paul praying for us. Paul was devoted to prayer just as his Lord Jesus set the example for his apostles. These words by the are from a prayer he wrote and sent to the Christians in Ephesus. Paul says that he did “not cease giving thanks” and it became a habit to pray for the young churches and to keep praying for the believers in all cities. He requested that God would give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in order that they would grow to know God better.  They were believers who knew God but like us all, they needed to continue to know God in a deeper way. This prayer is given to us in the Bible applies to our lives as well if we have believed and come to know God. We too want to know God better. We can each ask God to give us wisdom and revelation and to teach us by His Holy Spirit more and more of God's great truths for our Christian lives each day.

194

January 11 – Wisdom For Each Day

18“The wicked earns deceptive wages,
        but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
        but he who pursues evil will die.
20 Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord,
        but those of blameless ways are his delight.
21 Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,
        but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.” – Proverbs 11:18-21 (ESV)

In the book of Proverbs are found many promises. Proverbs has a concentration of parallel lines, or antithetical parallelism.  These proverbs look at the same truth from opposite perspectives. One line promises results of blessings and the other line promises the converse results of loss and even death. All the verses in Chapter 11 are such proverbs. Each one promises results from righteous living compared to results from the ways of evil living. 

• Verse 18 - The efforts of the wicked deceiver do not yield the riches his deception seeks, but the righteous receive a reward from God. 
• Verse 19 - Righteous living is rewarded with life and the wages of sin is death.  
• Verse 20 – The abominations defined throughout Scripture and especially in Proverbs, involve attitudes and behaviors which God hates*.
• Verse 21 - Individually or in collaboration, the wicked cannot be freed from duly and just punishment, while the unassisted children of the righteous find deliverance because of their relationship with God. 

God gives us here and in other passages the clear promise that wicked living has a losing result. However, righteous living is what He wants and will help us have. The wisdom is easy to see.

*What are the abominations? Proverbs 11:20; perverse living, (means crooked or distorted);  Proverbs 12:22; lying;  Proverbs 15:8; hypocrisy; Proverbs 15:9; wicked conduct; Proverbs 15:26; wicked thoughts; Proverbs16:5; pride; Proverbs 17:15; injustice; Proverbs 20:10, 23; dishonesty in business; 

200

December 29 – Finding Favor with God

“ And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” – Luke 2:51-52 (ESV)

The Bible gives us a good amount of detail about the birth of Jesus and who witnessed the Son of God coming to earth. Angels, shepherds, VIP’s from far East, and others became aware of the birth of Jesus. However, we have very little detail of his life between His parents’ presentation of him at the temple and the beginning of his ministry thirty years later. But we have one account when Jesus was twelve years old. His parents brought him to Jerusalem for Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Jesus is not in the caravan back to Nazareth and it is discovered he is missing after the first day’s travel. Returning to Jerusalem Joseph and Mary find him in the temple with the teachers of the Law. It was logical to Jesus that He would be where He was for it was His Father’s house and He knew who He was. Other than today’s verses, nothing is said of His life until John the Baptizer announces him and Jesus is baptized by John. We know that Jesus was submissive to his parents and in favor with God and man. 

191

November 7 – No Wisdom From Deniers

“How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us’? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie. The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and caught; Behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord, And what kind of wisdom is in them?” – Jeremiah 8:8-9 (NASB)

Throughout Scripture God makes promises that are either judgments or warnings of the same. That is what we find today in our passage. One of God’s prophets delivered a grave warning. It was a critical time for the Kingdom of Judah. Even the scribes and religious leaders were spinning the Word of God into lies and led the people deceitfully and away from God. Pretending they were wise; God instead promises shame and dismay and exposes their foolishness. This is happening in Churches today - why? Because preachers of the Gospel are rejecting the Word of the Lord. They deny inspiration by God the Holy Spirit, and they deny its authority. picking and tossing bits and pieces from it away they choose to disbelieve God. It’s simple, for those who reject the Bible and claim it is not the infallible Word of God do so to avoid responsibility to live by its truth. God says to them, “So, exactly what kind of wisdom do you think you have now? For you have none.” All they have is promised shame. Let’s be forewarned, if we have a weak view of Scripture, God promises we will have a weak interest in it.

198

May 1 – Knowledge and Understanding

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,…” - Colossians 1:9 (ESV)

Paul the Apostle was a man of prayer and filled with love for those who had come to know the saving faith of Jesus through his ministry. One of the servant messengers had brought to Paul a good report from the church in Colossae. This is Epaphras (Epaphroditus), Likely the same one who carried messages and support to Paul from the believers in Philippi (Philippians 4:18). Because of this good report from and of them, Paul continued to pray for them. Paul’s ceaseless prayer does not mean that he prayed without ever stopping but that he never forgot to pray for them when he regularly prayed each day. Paul’s primary petition was that God would fill them with the knowledge of His will. There are two key words, “fill” and “knowledge” which Paul used. The first suggests a filling out to entirety, and the latter is a full, deep understanding. Knowledge of this kind, and of God’s will, does not come from a natural or fleshly mind, but from the Word of God through the Holy Spirit who, dwelling in us enlightens our spirit. That is our promise ⸺spiritual wisdom from the Holy Spirit.

194

February 10 – “When Needing Wisdom”

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” – James 1:5-8 (NIV)

Because context is important, our promises are sometimes in more than one or two verses – that is the case today. The promise today is boundless. “If any … should ask … gives generously … without fault … will be given.” But the promise has a requirement and a caution – “must believe and not doubt.”  When a friend asks for prayer, how do you respond? Do you say you will pray but actually, rarely remember to pray? Do you send folded hands emoticons suggesting that you are indeed praying?  When you are sincerely praying is it more than a feel-good acknowledgement.  We might ask God for wisdom to help us choose our right path. When we need wisdom we ask God; He promises to give richly without humiliating us⸺that’s important. God promises we will receive wisdom when we ask in faith believing.  Those who ask with doubt are double-minded people. No wishy-washing doubting allowed. Faith in God that He will hear our request for wisdom and provide what we need is essential. If you do not believe God can or will answer and if conviction is not truly in your heart, then like a rudderless boat being tossed by the wind and waves. 

197

November 26 – Thanksgiving and Prayer

“For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,…” Ephesians 1:15-17 (ESV)

When the Apostle Paul wrote his letters to the people in the churches he had established, he would often fill the sentences with teaching and truth that run very long. In the first chapter of this letter, verses 3-14 and 15-23 are one sentence each in the Greek. The Apostle is sharing the reasons for the thanksgiving he offers on behalf of the saints in Ephesus. What Paul says about the Ephesians becomes a promise for us. He writes, "For this reason" which references what we believers possess and is every spiritual blessing—including election, predestination, adoption, grace, redemption, forgiveness, wisdom, understanding, knowledge of the mystery of His will, the sealing of the Holy Spirit, and their inheritance—Paul now prayed that his readers might know God personally and intimately. Also, because of their faith and love for other saints, he continued to give thanks for them and makes more requests for them. Although some versions start a new sentence at verse 17, there is no break in the Greek. He asks God to give the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. These are solid promises worth our giving thanksgiving to God and love for each other. 

- 196 -

November 10 – After Wisdom Comes Understanding

“The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.”  Proverbs 4:7. (NASB)

We read in yesterday's post to not consider ourselves to be wise.  A wrong attitude about our own capabilities, thinking we are greater than we are, is a dangerous practice. But wisdom is honored and is a good thing. We are instructed to seek out wisdom. Wanting wisdom is good. Today we learn what the starting point of wisdom is. And, it is the acquisition of wisdom. It makes sense. Nothing can compare with wisdom and Solomon learned from his father, King David, how important it is to get wisdom. It’s so simple that we overlook the depth of this truth. With wisdom we gain more wisdom and that is the very nature of having wisdom. Seeking wisdom is the first step. With wisdom, when we find and get it, comes understanding. Understanding guides us onto the wise path that God makes straight before us. Do we ever think we know better than what we read in the Bible? Yes, we do that all the time. We resist wisdom by trying to conform it to our own reasoning instead. The danger is that our reason is built on our human nature. Remember, Eve and Adam’s reasoning was fatally flawed.

- 200 -

November 4 – The Essence of Starting

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 (NASB) 

A Hebrew word is used here, in the original language Proverbs were written in.  The “beginning” of knowledge more literally is translated “the start.”  The start of knowledge in our lives in Christ is ‘the fear of the LORD.” This kind of 'fear' is having 'awesome respect and reverence'. The fools in our verse are those characterized by a slow and closed mind. They are thickheaded and stubborn and in their arrogant, coarse ways, reject God and His wisdom. One cannot gain knowledge of spiritual things unless one begins at the correct point. The word used for ‘beginning’ is also used to mean ‘the capstone’ or even ‘the essence.’ The essence of true knowledge is fearing God. Apart from Him a person is ignorant of spiritual things. In contrast, those who fear God will have wisdom and gain knowledge. It is fools who despise wisdom and discipline. They despise by trusting their own reasoning and hold in contempt, and ridicule something we experience and might make us shy of proclaiming Christ. The promise is, possessing proper fear the Lord, is to recognize God’s character and respond by revering, trusting, worshiping, obeying, and serving Him

- 194 -

October 2 – Building On What Is Solid

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock…. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.”  Matthew 7:24, 26  (NASB)

Matthew 7 has these words in the Sermon on the Mount – Jesus' first recorded public sermon.  Jesus is concluding by telling those listening what the consequence of their behavior will be. There is a difference between those who believe in Jesus and follow His teachings; and those who say they believe but do not follow Him.  The illustration in Matthew 7:24-27 compares a wise and foolish man. If wise, we will be certain our belief has a solid foundation in truth, in God’s Word. If so, our faith will withstand the onslaught of the world’s storms from the enemy of our souls.  The unwise and self-centered have as a foundation for their belief based own their own reasoning which is weak and not sturdy.  When challenged by false teachings, lies, and temptations from Satan, what a foolish man builds his beliefs on will be destroyed and washed away. The wise trust the rock-solid foundation of God’s truth. It will not fall when attacked. We don’t build on shifting thoughts and ideas which seek to please only ourselves. Such will be a great fall because those who believe the enemy’s words will not know it is coming.  

- 196 -

September 10 – Deeper Understanding

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,”  Colossians 1:9 (ESV)

These words are from the letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the believer’s assembly in the city of Colosse.  We know Paul may not have visited this church in person* (Colossians 2:1), but we do know that he knew of it through Epaphras who likely planted that church. Paul was well acquainted with their progress and love in the Holy Spirit. Twice in  the first few verses of the first chapter, Paul mentions his acts of praying for them in Colossians 1:3 and in today’s verse. It is a regular practice for Paul to pray for this church and to petition for their fullness of knowledge – a work of the Holy Spirit.  This asking that they “be filled with the knowledge of His will,” is for us as well.  Paul’s request for their filling of knowledge is a filling that is complete, lacking nothing.  The ‘knowledge’ is a deep understanding of God’s will for and in our lives. We are promised a clear analysis and decision-making through applying this knowledge to the challenges we face in our Christian life.  The next verse informs us of Paul’s aim in praying this way (Colossians 1:10). 

- 191 -

* The question of whether Paul the Apostle ever visited the city of Colosse or ever visited the church that Epaphras planted there is an ongoing debate.  Most believe that Paul passed through Colossae on his way to Laodicea but no church had been planted there yet. This was on his third missionary journey. 

May 9 – Not Slow, But Patient

“But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. … Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.”  - 2 Peter 3:13, 15 (NIV)

In this letter by the Apostle Peter, we read of a day to come when God will be done with this earth. Peter tells us of God’s promise regarding the end of the world as we know it now.  He encourages us, those who have believed, to maintain holy and godly lives. Doing so will speed the coming of that day.  What will it be like?  We encourage you to read the context in 2 Peter 3 as the promises here in our verses today and in the larger passage are very important to remember for us who believe.  When the world is in chaos or near chaos, we are taught to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him (2 Peter 3:14 NIV).  But we are to also remember that the reason these days have not yet come is because God is patience for more to believe in the Gospel and become children of God. Peter also confirms the Apostle Paul’s words to be wisdom and given to him by God. Although Peter and Paul began their relationship over a conflict, (Galatians 2:11-12) we see here that they are of one mind and on the same page. 

-199-

May 4 – Waves Only Waver

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.  But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.”  - James 1:5-6 (NLT)

If counsel is what we need, then it is wisdom that we ask for from God.  This we are promised in a  familiar and popular verse.  We are promised that God is generous and not stingy when it comes to giving us the wisdom we need.  We are also promised that God will not shame us for asking.  We often shame each other when we are asked because we expect they should already know or have what they are asking for.  God does not rebuke us for having a request for wisdom.  Then we learn that God wants our request to be made in pure faith trusting in His promises. No attachments, no addendum, no contingencies which all add up to doubt and doubt does not mix with faith.  Asking with doubt is not faith.  It is a lack of faith.  If we have ever watched the sea or lake when the waves are up. They are random, they never repeat and we have no idea where they will go. When we doubt, we are acting like a windblown wave and we are not truly believing God will or even can give us the wisdom He promises. 

-197-

February 17 – Right on Schedule

“…which he [God] lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”  - Ephesians 1:9-10 (ESV)

Despite the political uncertainty and military unrest in the world today, we can be assured that God is in control.  The word translated “mystery” is a Greek word that does not mean “mystery” as we think of it. For us a mystery is something strange, an enigma,  even a weird phenomena This is the common understanding. It is used in Paul's letters to mean a “secret”–something that has been kept hidden, something previously unrevealed. But now God has revealed his secrets to us through those whom He inspired to write the Bible–especially the New Testament. These secrets which are often identified as the mystery and unrevealed before Christ came into our world, were revealed to the Apostle Paul and others.  The revelation of the risen, ascended and glorified Lord is set forth in this passage where Paul is reminding us of the promise that Jesus Himself is the sum total purpose of human history. In Jesus Christ, the Son of God, all things will be summed up and all accounts settled and made right—all human history will be resolved and united to the Father through the work of the Son. 

# # #