And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.

Ecclesiastes 1

And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. Ecclesiastes 1:13

I continue my study today of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my focus is an unassisted review of Ecclesiastes 1:12-18, which is the second division of Ecclesiastes chapter 1 per the commentary.  As a backdrop, Solomon, who (see 1 Kings 3) "loved the Lord....only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places," prayed to God for wisdom and God not only gave him great wisdom, but also riches and honor.  1 Kings 3:14 shares that God also told Solomon "if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days."  God created everything (see Genesis 1) - the universe, the heavens, man and woman, all of its inhabitants (creatures, etc.) as well as wisdom and knowledge - yet God's plan from the very beginning was for all of this to be used for His glory and for everything to be done in service to Him.  Unfortunately, as Solomon looks back at his life (and then authoring this book), having fallen prey to sinful pursuits, he sees the futility of a worldly pursuit of knowledge and wisdom apart from God.  These things are not bad pursuits on their face, but when chased as an idol they become bad.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.     

Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

1 Corinthians 8

Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. 1 Corinthians 8:12-13

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - unaided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 8.  Based on the ESV footnote from v1, Paul responds "to a question in the Corinthians' letter" to him - see also the same language in 7:1 - where he admonishes those who believe in how eating foods offered to idols somehow offer a benefit.  

v1-2: Paul draws a distinction from knowing something - perhaps facts, and this may serve to "puff" us up and by extension make others feel inferior (when this person whom supposedly knows something does not really know anything as it is God who reveals wisdom and knowledge) - vs love which "builds up" another.  

v3: Paul goes further with this distinction by stating that if we "love God, [we are] known by God."

v4-6: Paul now writes that "therefore" gaining knowledge through the eating of food offered to idols is a fool-hearty pursuit - since idols are not real and only God reveals wisdom and knowledge.  All things come from God and from Him we exist, and though Him all things, including people, exist.

v7-13: Some who do not know the Good News or are new to faith in Jesus Christ are weakened by thoughts and beliefs that might believe that good offered to idols provide some benefit.  Paul is explicit that what we eat is not of concern or care to God.  God does care however when we pursue theology that weakens faith.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives my wisdom and knowledge - it all comes from You.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am undeserving because I often get haughty and arrogant and I have other sin - lots of it and daily!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.   Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

Proverbs 9

Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. Proverbs 9:17

On the back half of my vacation in Maine, I continue my study of Proverbs 9.  Here, my study unpacks how wisdom contrasts with folly. Attributes of someone seeking wisdom include humility and a desire for feedback and instruction (v9-10) versus someone seeking folly who does not fear the Lord nor does he seek reproval or feedback (v7-8).  This is an important litmus test as we journey in our faith.  We are tempted to seek folly as the benefits may seem "sweet" or "pleasant" but we should validate the extent to which our journey is one of humility.  Others should look for fruits of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:16-24).  We should also surround ourselves with brothers and sisters in Christ (Proverbs 27:17) who can help us detect when we fall prey to the temptations that seek to distract us from pursuit of wisdom (vs folly).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and Your path is straight and You light my way and You keep my feet steady - thank You Jesus for helping me stay on the path of wisdom.  I am not deserving of how You lead me and protect me.  My sin is great and I often wander off Your path.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

Proverbs 9

Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. Proverbs 9:8-9

On the back half of my vacation in Maine, I resume my study of Proverbs picking up in chapter 9, which my study describes as "the final poem of the first major section of [Proverbs]." This chapter contrasts the two paths we have in life - wisdom and folly.  While the English dictionary for reprove has some variation, it core definition is one that describes criticism, feedback, or instruction - the variation can often be wide from harsh to gentle. Regardless of the variation - my study points out how the Jewish elders during Jesus' ministry (and shortly thereafter as the early church formed) on earth rejected Him as scoffers.  Here in Proverbs 9 we see the same message as scripture describes and contrasts scoffers versus a wise/righteous man. For me this is a hard message to swallow as I've recently acted like a scoffer.  Please God forgive me and help me fear in You first then seek wisdom.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - despite my sin.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am not deserving of Your grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[God's words] are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.

Proverbs 8

[God's words] are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. Proverbs 8:9

I completed my study of Proverbs for the week, where I examined chapter 8. Today, the commentary focuses on how chapter 8:

•  portrays "wisdom [as]...integrally present at creation...[and how it] points to the eternal Son of God"
•  describes wisdom, and thereby Jesus Christ, as "the way to life...and to miss her is to love death" (v35-36)
• describes wisdom and how "God wove wisdom into the created order so that it would function as coherent system...those who submit to God and His ways-the wise-are able to participate in the rationality at the heart of created things" (v9)

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - You provide Your Words - wisdom - and You give me ears to hear and eyes to see so that I can understand and have life. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your Word.  It is more valuable than silver and gold.  Again I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.

Proverbs 8

Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. Proverbs 8:34

Today, I resumed my study of Proverbs, looking closely at chapter 8. The first five questions of my study focus on how God makes wisdom easy to access, understand, and follow - as long as we seek wisdom.  The questions also focus on how wisdom instills a hatred of evil and on how it provides practical benefits in our day-to-day lives. Yet core to obtaining wisdom is found in a desire to seek it and to value it.  Wisdom, in Proverbs 8 (per my study) is described as an attribute of God's character.  We must go to God daily, watching at His gates and waiting beside His doors. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are more valuable than silver and gold and worthy of my life as a living sacrifice - I know I exist to glorify You and You are worthy.  You are the Creator and my personal Lord and Savior.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

...to give prudence to the simple[.]

Proverbs 1

 ...to give prudence to the simple[.] Proverbs 1:4

I resume meeting with D-Group as we continue a study of Proverbs using the Knowing the Bible study series for this book.  This week's focus is Proverbs 1:1-7. The introduction for this chapter (week 2) states that verses 2-6 lay out the goal of Proverbs "which is the acquisition of knowledge."  One of the questions from the study for this week looks at v4 and how we are to be "simple." The takeaway is that we should not be committed to either wisdom or folly as these can be idols in and of themselves.  Instead, we should commit to the Lord and fear Him first, and it is through a right relationship with Him where we fear God and act out of humility (knowing our place with God) that God reveals Himself to us (including wisdom).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and I have seen the blessing of fearing You as You have dispensed wisdom and words to say in challenging circumstances - thank You Jesus!  I know this comes only from You.  I am not deserving of such blessings - my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old....when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth....The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Proverbs 8-9

The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth....when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman....The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Proverbs 8:22-23, 8:29-30, 9:10

This week I start a deep-dive of Proverbs based on the Crossway Knowing the Bible series volume for this book.  Week 1 of this study starts with a few broad questions, including a look at Proverbs 8-9, and it asks "how should we understand the personification of wisdom" in these chapters? Proverbs 8:22-23 indicates that God possessed wisdom and it existed both before creation (as part of Himself) and at the start of creation, before He created anything else.  The implication is that He brought it forth, distributing it as part of creation, manifesting in creation a part of Himself.  Colossians 1 helps further unpack how perhaps Jesus Christ is wisdom when Paul writes:  

[Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. Colossians 1:15-16

Proverbs 8:29-30 and 9:10 continue to explain how we should understand the personification of wisdom by pointing out that wisdom was "beside" God during creation and how fear of the Lord initiates wisdom - we must see God first and foremost and He reveals and creates wisdom in our hearts and minds.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the source of all creation, and You both possess and distribute wisdom - to those who submit and follow You.  Thank You Jesus for giving me wisdom as a means to navigate life - and my prayer is that I use it to please and glorify You as I know that is why exist.  I am not deserving of how You bless me.  My sin is great and it continues daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?

1 Kings 3-4

And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people? 1 Kings 3:7-9

This week I start a deep-dive of Proverbs based on the Crossway Knowing the Bible series volume for this book.  Week 1 of this study provides an overview, and points us to the historical context of Proverbs from 1 Kings 3-4 where God gives Solomon wisdom as unmatched by any other - either before or after Solomon.  Key for me to unpack as I explore Proverbs is the inherent conflict (and how to resolve) in Proverbs, which is stated in the study guide as "[the] observations" as recorded from Solomon in Proverbs on "how God has designed the world to work...should not be taken as promises."  The conflict arises when I view this statement with 2 Timothy 3:16-17 which states that "[a]ll Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."  If all scripture is God-breathed, how can I not see Proverbs as promises of God?  I will not answer this question today but will unpack this in the coming weeks, perhaps sooner rather than later. For now I start with the historical context for Proverbs.  God appears to Solomon at night in a dream (1 Kings 3:5) and grants him a wish and 1 Kings 6-9 records Solomon's response.  We see in v10-14 how this request pleased the Lord, and ends with an exhortation to Solomon that "if you walk in my ways..[God] will lengthen [Solomon's] days."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You alone are sinless - yet You willingly laid down Your life for me so that I could life - now to the full on earth - and forever in Heaven.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving...like Solomon and any other that walks the earth - I am sinful.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and energy.  Heal Lisa from her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.      

The Lord brought me [wisdom] forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be....For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 8-9, 1-4

The Lord brought me [wisdom] forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be....For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 8:22-23, 2:6

Day 134 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with a study of the Proverbs - primarily of Solomon, but including the Proverbs of other authors as well. My commentary* indicates that "[t]he proverbs are short poems, usually in the form of couplets, which set high ethical standards and give practical advice for daily living through the use of comparative, or perhaps antithetical, imagery....[they] place high value on wisdom and sharply contrast good and evil, righteousness and wickedness, justice and injustice."  My commentary* also indicates that although other cultures may have influenced each other with regards to how similar writings/poetry appear during this time in history when Proverbs was written, "...the Hebrew proverbs are distinct in that all wisdom is seen as flowing from the true God, rather than being a mere accumulation of human observation and experience."  

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Similar to my study of the Psalms, individual Proverbs are categorized into topic areas and this morning my focus includes an introduction to wisdom, the benefits of wisdom, the dangers of rejecting wisdom, and Solomon's personal plea to his sons to seek wisdom.

Similar to my post yesterday, I am highlighting how wisdom comes from God alone.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You alone produce wisdom - worthy of my study and reflection, and my obedience.  Your wisdom has indeed produced blessings in my life and I am not deserving of such blessings.  I worry, and I have other sins.  I am grateful for Your forgiveness and mercy and I need it once again today...this morning.  Please forgive me for my sin and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory.

1 Kings 4, 7, 9-10; 2 Chronicles 1, 7-9, and Psalm 72 

Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Psalm 72:18-19

Day 133 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with the construction of Solomon's palace, a palace for Solomon's wife, and with the construction of cities within Solomon's kingdom.  God appears to Solomon, reassures him that his family will remain on the throne forever, that He will hear Israel's cries for help in their time of need, yet also warns Solomon that Israel must be obedient otherwise they will face destruction (1 Kings 9:1-9).

My reading this morning also describes the extent of Solomon's wisdom and wealth:

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom. 1 Kings 4:29-34 

King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. 1 Kings 10:23

The extent of Solomon's wisdom and wealth not only brought prosperity and peace to Israel, but it attracted others.

The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. 1 Kings 10:24

The queen of Sheba sought an audience with Solomon and traveled over a 1000 miles to see Solomon (1 Kings 10:1).

She was duly impressed and even praised God:

"Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.” 1 Kings 10:9

Solomon understands the source of his wisdom and wealth AND its purpose - by God and for God.

Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Psalm 72:18-19

My Prayer: Lord Your wisdom is great and You provide both abundantly and for all of my needs - I am not deserving of such blessings. I sin daily.  I worry and I have other sins. I am grateful for Your many mercies and compassion and of course for Your death on the cross as it provides forgiveness of sin and everlasting life...again both of which I am not deserving.  Yet I am thankful.  Please do forgive my for my sins of worry, etc.  Help me overome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”[d] But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. v16

Building on chapter 1 (see post yesterday), Paul continues to remind us of the source and purpose of wisdom.  He tells us that he has no wisdom apart from the Holy Spirit in him (v2-5) and that God reveals to believers this wisdom (v9-10, 12, 13).  This is of course very humbling and exciting at the same time - that we don't possess wisdom from and for ourselves but from and for God.  If we consider that God is all knowing isn't it amazing that God would even disclose a sliver of this wisdom to us?

See also posts here. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has shown my great wisdom and this has helped me through great difficulties and helped me grow closer to You - thank You Jesus!  I am grateful!  Yet I am humbled and undeserving.  I worry and my sin is great.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 1

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” v27-31

Moving from unity (focus of recent posts), we find Paul addressing division in the church at Corinth.  Paul founded the church in Corinth and spent a considerable amount of time there (see OverviewBible.com and Acts 18), and his first letter to Corinth includes a reprimand of the church over its division, and an encouragement to focus on what matters.  Paul starts by admonishing those who over-emphasize church leaders (v10-17) and wisdom of human beings vs that of God.  We value wisdom but we must recognize the source and purpose of wisdom - it's not about us as we exist to glorify God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has blessed me beyond what I deserve with Your wisdom and a heart to grow closer to You - yet I am undeserving of such blessings and often sin (worry, gossip, etc.) and this separates me from You.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Jesus said,“For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

John 9

Jesus said,“For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” v39

The story of Jesus healing a man born blind continues in John 9 with the Pharisees throwing the man out of the temple - as the man dared challenge the Pharisees (v27-34).  Jesus seeks to reassure the man as He finds him later (v35-41) and makes a distinction between physical and spiritual blindness.  We must recognize that we are all spiritually blind without Jesus - it is only through Jesus that we have sight and this sight is developed over the course of a lifetime via our journey with Christ.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. Isaiah 42:16

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has given me the gift of sight and You daily help me see Truth and give me wisdom and words to say in my role as spiritual leader of my household - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such gifts.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

Luke 18

The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about. v34

On the heels of my recent post on arrogance comes a post on wisdom, where wisdom comes from, how to achieve wisdom, and the blessings of possessing wisdom. Here in Luke 18 Jesus predicts His death for a third time yet "[t]he disciples did not understand any of this", as the "meaning was hidden from them".  The MacArthur commentary suggests that perhaps the disciples were too focused "with other ideas about the Messiah".  I can't tell for sure why the disciples did not understand Jesus, but one thing about which I am certain is that wisdom comes from God, and that you cannot possess wisdom outside of God.

See this awesome post from John Piper on wisdom and my other posts on wisdom. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are Truth, Wisdom, Light, Love, etc.  I seek You and all of who You are - You are an awesome God who is so full of love and grace for me - thank You Jesus.  Yet I am undeserving of such love and grace.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Mark 10

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. v15-16

Jesus loves children and their curiosity and dependence on their parents for all things - this is humility...that we don't have wisdom apart from God and we don't have anything good apart from God.

Great references:
Childlike, Not Childish
Blessed Are the ‘Man-Boys’

We should all be child-like in our faith.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has provided me with all things - apart from You I have no good thing.  Thank You for how You so richly bless me.  I am undeserving of such love and blessings. I am selfish and I daily miss the mark.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

Hosea 14

The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. v9

As I wrap up my study of Hosea - I end on a positive note, with Israel returning to God and with God welcoming back a repentant Israel.  In verse 2-3 we see this "return" along with a recognition that the Gods fashioned by man serve no good and only anger the one true God.  In verse 4-8 we see the blessing that accompanies those who turn to and submit to God.  Most importantly, there is humility and a recognition, that God is before and in all things and in control (Colossians 1:16-17), and that without Him there is no good things, especially wisdom.





, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Jeremiah 33

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. v3

Jeremiah is often referred to as the weeping prophet for the loneliness he feels as others conspire against him as they feel angry over the message he delivers regarding impending punishment God has in store for the Jewish people.  Yet Jeremiah gains strength through God and continues to delivery truth.

In Jeremiah 29-35 God uses Jeremiah to give the Jewish people hope for a restoration. They will return from exile, God will be there for them, and God will keep His promise to delivery a Savior from David's line (see Jeremiah 33:14-16).

As He communicates this message of hope to both the Jewish people and to us as we read it now, we must focus in on the awesomeness of God's promises and today in particular the promises God makes in chapter 33.

Verse 3 is one of the great promises we should lock away in our heart - we all want wisdom - just as Solomon had wisdom.  God promises a divine wisdom if we just "call to [Him]".   This "unsearchable" wisdom can only be found by God and God in His greatness will tell us unsearchable things - of course the next question becomes how will use such knowledge.  We must glorify Him with all that we do - that is why we exist. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I love You and You have divined unsearchable things to me and I am grateful Lord.  For this and so much more You have been so amazing to me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

Isaiah 33

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. v6

God is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).  He wants us to have life and to have it to the "full" (John 10:10).  If we turn towards Him and focus on a renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2) we overcome the damning consequences of our free will. 

God directs us towards truth as He gives us wisdom and knowledge.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.  Psalm 119:105

More from John Piper on free will.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - You are an amazing God who has helped me with truth and knowledge - thank You Jesus!  I am not worthy of such a gift.  I often place other gods and idols above You.  Please forgive me!  Help me see the surpassing worth of You and You alone!  Help me turn towards You and love with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.

Proverbs 8

Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. v34-35

I've previously discussed v34 as a call to seek God daily through study of His Word and through prayer.  V35 is a promise that is often repeated in scripture with one example being: 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 

Other aspects of this chapter include the value of God's Word:

All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. v8

To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge. v9

Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. v10-11

My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. v19

As I sit here, in my own life, I can with 100% certainty attest to the truth of  Proverbs 8.  Yet even as I speak, I know from time to time I don't act with this certainty.  Jesus, please help me grow in my faith, desire for You, and desire to please You.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me - this I know.  I know You are always with me and You have given me life to the full...and so much more!  Thank You Jesus.  Indeed my cup overflows. I am not worth such rich blessings and love.  I worry and I am harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.