Wisdom of Christ

Do you desire wisdom? Do you wish you could see the truth? Do you wish you could keep yourself from being deceived? Would you like to see things from the big picture point of view? Do you believe that would help you understand life better?

Wisdom is not something we talk about much in today’s culture. Instead, we talk about knowledge and education. Unfortunately, knowledge and education can only proceed so far. There is a point when they are exhausted, even if we fail to see it.

Wisdom goes beyond knowledge and education. A wise person discerns when and how to apply the knowledge they have acquired. Knowing a typical screw is turned to the right to tighten it and to the left to loosen it can only be put to proper use when we are wise enough to turn it in the right direction to accomplish our goal. Of course, this is a very small example, but the principle can be applied to all knowledge.

But wisdom isn’t limited to discernment in applying our knowledge. It expands into judging correctly. Judgment is not for or against a person but judging between right and wrong. It is seeing the situation from God’s perspective and determining which action is right or wrong — making our choices based on the wisdom of God.

The wisdom we need, and should desire, is the wisdom of Christ. As we see in today’s passage, this wisdom is a treasure. Wisdom is more precious than all the silver, gold, or jewels we can acquire (Proverbs 8:10-11). Wisdom is what we are to seek and true wisdom can only come from God.

I pray we all seek the wisdom of God. I pray we ask God to bless us with his wisdom. I pray each one of us will spend time in prayer, reading God’s Word, and seeking his wisdom for our lives. Acquire knowledge. Be discerning. Rightly judge. Seek wisdom. Ask God for wisdom. Apply God’s wisdom to your life.

Colossians 2:2-4 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.

Going Up to God’s Mountain

Have you ever gone up onto a mountain? Have you gone up to spend time worshiping God? Do you feel as though you are going up when you praise, sing to, and pray to God?

We sometimes talk of having a “mountain top experience.” We usually mean we felt extremely good, happy, or joyous. Something wonderful has happened or we have achieved a great achievement.

I can remember going up the mountain and worshiping many years ago. Several people from our church would hike up Old Rag, which was a small mountain in the Shenandoah Valley. We carried our lunches in backpacks along with Bibles and copies of hymns.

While on the mountain, we would eat lunch, sing some hymns, and hear a short devotional message. We always did this in October to see the wonderful colors of fall. We often saw eagles flying below us! We were reminded of God’s beautiful creation and his awesome power.

There will be one mountain top experience like no other. That mountain top experience will be the day we meet the Lord face-to-face and know we will never leave his sight again.

Isaiah prophecies of both the coming of Jesus in the flesh and of God’s final restoration of his creation. Jesus takes the first step of restoration when He comes to earth. God will take the final step at the time he has set.

I pray we all seek to go up the mountain to God. I pray we experience a mountain top experience in this life. I pray each of us will seek God with our hearts to prepare us for his final victory. Experience the mountain top. Look forward to going to God’s mountain top. Look forward to seeing him face-to-face. Know that God will restore you.

Isaiah 2:2 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.

Live in Safety

Do you long for safety? Are you looking for a place where you feel safe and secure? Would you like to lay down at night without worry, fear, or anxiety? Have you turned to the One who can grant it to you? Have you learned and committed to trusting God?

Many live in fear today. Many live with worry. Many live with anxiety. Many of them live with these mental infirmities because they feel alone. Many live this way because they feel as though they have no one they can count on. But there is One we can all count on.

Far too many people in this world have no relationship with God. They have not taken time to consider him. Some may not even know of him. They only know that a member of a church at some time in the past had mistreated them. Or they have never heard the true story of God and his desire to care for them.

Others say they believe in God. They may even say they are followers of Jesus. But they do not really trust Him. They have not taken the time to build a relationship with Him. Sure, they may attend a worship service on occasion or even every Sunday. Unfortunately, they continue to keep Him at arm’s length, never fully embracing Him.

As Christians, we are to fully embrace Jesus. Not only that, but we are to tell the story of Jesus to others. When we embrace Jesus fully, we find safety. As we discover this safety, we want to share it with others. Especially when we have lived with worry, fear, and anxiety. Ridding ourselves of those feelings is freeing. God will grant us the safety we desire.

I pray we all embrace Jesus. I pray we take time to build a relationship with Him. I pray each one of us will give our worry, fear, and anxiety over to God and experience the safety he provides. Give up your worry. Hand over your fear. Be removed from your anxiety. Build a relationship with God. Learn to trust him. Live in his safety.

Hosea 2:18

In that day I will make a covenant for them 

with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky 

and the creatures that move along the ground. 

Bow and sword and battle 

I will abolish from the land, 

so that all may lie down in safety.

Walk in the Light

Are you looking for light at the end of the tunnel? Would you like to see the light? Are you in need of instruction? Do you need guidance? Where have you been looking? Have you considered you have been looking in the wrong place?

We all need guidance. We all need instruction. Even when we get old, we need guidance and instruction. No one has all the answers. Anyone who thinks they do is sadly mistaken. There is one place we can get instruction and guidance for living a profitable life.

God provides us with the instruction and guidance we need. I know, there are many in this world who believe the Bible is outdated, old-fashioned, or simply wrong. It is unfortunate for them that they believe that. God is not wrong, and he certainly did not mistakenly give the human race his guidance to be written down.

A time is coming when all nations will come to him. God will be the light in which all of us walk. Isaiah is not pointing to a period of time as we might imagine. He is pointing to the end of time—to eternity. But we can walk in God’s light right now. When we obey his commands, follow his instruction, adhere to his guidance, we walk in his light.

Have you ever wanted to be ahead in the game? Here’s your chance. Start obeying God today and continue obeying for the remainder of your life. You will be ready for Jesus’ return. You will be prepared to spend eternity with Him. God has fulfilled his promises over the centuries and will fulfill his promises again. Jesus will return to claim His own.

I pray we all follow God’s instruction. I pray we prepare ourselves for eternity. I pray each one of us will walk in God’s light today and look for Jesus to return at the appointed time. Be prepared. Get ahead in the game. Follow God’s instructions. Obey God’s commands. Be a follower of Jesus Christ. Be ready to spend eternity with Him.

Isaiah 51:4

“Listen to me, my people; 

hear me, my nation: 

Instruction will go out from me; 

my justice will become a light to the nations.”

Singing Thanksgiving

Do you give thanks to God regularly? Do you sing praises from the heart? Do you hum those songs of thanks, giving thanks to God for your blessings? Do you thank God for each blessing? Have you taken time to count them? Is the list overwhelming?

God desires each of us give thanks for the blessings he bestows on us. He desires us to count them and realize he has blessed us far more than we typically recognize. God knows we will not identify every blessing. We take far too much for granted.

God also wants us to sing praises to him. He loves to hear us sing—the louder the better. He wants our singing to come from the heart. He longs to have our hearts reach out to him in music and praise. God loves seeing our hearts opened wide to him.

As we celebrate our thanksgiving holiday, which was originally celebrated as a feast of thanksgiving for a bountiful crop, let’s give thanks for bountiful blessings. Long ago, the bountiful crop gave the early settlers the comfort of knowing they could survive the winter. Our bountiful blessings provide us much more than survival. Those of us reading this message likely are not worried about having enough food for the winter. We have been blessed so richly that our worry is whether we are dressed in the latest style rather than whether we will eat in January or not.

Perhaps it is time we take time to count the multitude of blessings God has blessed us with. Once we realize how blessed we are, maybe we will complain a little less and be a little more joyful. Maybe we will be a little less selfish and share a little more. Maybe we will be a little less possessive and a little more giving. And maybe, just maybe, we will please God a little more.

I pray we all take time to be thank God. I pray we take time to count our blessings from God. I pray each one of us experience more joy, share more, give more, and be more thankful. Count your blessings. Share your blessings with others. Give thanks to God. Sing praises to God.

Ephesians 5:19b-20 Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Heart and Soul

Do you know how to worship God? Have you heard the type of worship God desires? Do you know what it means to worship God in Spirit and in truth? Is your worship haphazard? Do you worship in fits and spurts? Is God on your mind every day?

Many of us have been told we are to worship God. We may have been told we need to go to church. We may have heard we are to worship in Spirit and truth. Worshiping in Spirit and truth may be a foreign concept to some of us. It may be elusive to those who think they know.

Hearing we are to worship in Spirit and truth can be misunderstood. Worshiping in Spirit is connecting our spirit to the Holy Spirit. It is letting go of our desires to obey God’s commands. It is communing with God in prayer. It is submitting to God’s guidance rather than following our own. Worshiping in Spirit is not to be momentary but a continual worship.

Worshiping in truth is a heart thing. It means being truthful with God. It means baring our souls to God. It is telling God our innermost feelings and asking him to change them as he sees fit. It is loving God more than anyone or anything in this world. Worshiping in truth is turning our hearts over to God without holding any of it for ourselves.

God desires we worship him with are entire heart and soul. These are our entire being. True worship of God has very little to do with tradition, physical actions, or what we say. We can say we love God, but still be holding back in our spirit and mind. We can go through the motions, but not be worshiping God. We can go to church, follow the traditions, observe holidays, and even partake of communion, but not be worshiping God. We must turn over our heart, soul, and mind to God to be true worshipers.

I pray we all decide to be true worshipers of God. I pray we worship God in Spirit and in truth. I pray we turn our hearts, souls, and minds over to worshiping God every moment of every day. Worship God in spirit. Worship God in truth. Worship God with your whole heart. Submit to God’s guidance. Be a true worshiper of God.

John 4:23-24 “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Return of the King

Have you ever wandered what it would be like to live under the rule of a king? Do you think it would be like the movies you see? Do you envision it being like modern day monarchies, with representation? Would you be surprised if it was neither of those?

Kingdoms have existed as monarchies for thousands of years. Some of them ruled by good kings or queens, while others have been ruthless. Some monarchs desire the best for their people, while others only desire to lord their position over their subjects.

There is a King who will rule forever. He is a not just a good king but a great King. He will rule with love, compassion, kindness, power, peace, and justice. He will not just rule one nation but every nation on earth will submit to His rule. His kingdom will extend to the ends of the earth. In fact, He will create a new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem.

Jesus has been crowned the King of kings, and yet, He is a king in waiting. He stands with the scepter in His hands, and yet, the time for His complete rule has not yet occurred. He will come with power and authority, eliminating His enemy, Satan, and set up His kingdom forever.

We sit in a time of waiting. We await His return. We wait for Him to implement His rule over all nations. We wait for God’s perfect timing to set up His throne amongst His people. We serve a rebellious King who is counter-cultural and will institute His kingdom of no fear, no tears, no loss, no frustration, no anger, no hatred, no crime. His kingdom will be a kingdom of love, joy, peace, awe, wonder, serving, worshiping, praising, eternity.

I pray we all look toward the return of our King. I pray we serve Him as He guides us in this life. I pray each one of us fully understand Jesus is King of kings and will institute His kingdom at the right time. Serve the King. Serve Jesus. Be a citizen of His kingdom. Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Wait patiently for His return.

Jeremiah 3:17 At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the Lord. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.

Keep the Covenant

As we enter the season of Advent, we begin our look toward the coming of our Lord and Savior. The Jews of more than two-thousand years ago were looking toward His coming. We look toward His return and an eternity spent with Him.

We begin our journey with hope. We are encouraged by the hope of God’s promises. We trust in God’s promises having seen him fulfill them in the past. God promised the coming of the Messiah through his prophets of old. He also promised an eternity spent with him.

God’s holy mountain is his permanent dwelling place. Though we do not often think about it, God’s temporary dwelling place is in heaven. He has promised a permanent dwelling place in the new heavens, new earth, and new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-8). God will make his dwelling place among those who believe in him and have accepted His Son as Lord and Savior.

Our hope is built on God’s promises. We know he fulfills them. We trust he will accept everyone who accepts His Son into his house of prayer. We trust we will see people of all nations when we come into his presence face-to-face. Our responsibility? Keep the covenant with God.

I pray we all keep God’s covenant. I pray we trust in God’s promises. I pray each one of us put our hope in the return of Jesus Christ and the coming of the new heavens, new earth, and new Jerusalem. Hold on to your hope. Put your hope in God’s promises. Look forward to spending eternity with God. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

Isaiah 56:6-7

“And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord

to minister to him, 

to love the name of the Lord,

and to be his servants, 

all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it 

and who hold fast to my covenant— 

these I will bring to my holy mountain 

and give them joy in my house of prayer. 

Their burnt offerings and sacrifices 

will be accepted on my altar; 

for my house will be called 

a house of prayer for all nations.”

Do Not Covet

Is there something you have longed for and have been unable to acquire? Have you longed after another person? Have you desired the possessions of someone you knew—a relative or neighbor?

Our culture tells us to go acquire more. It tells us we deserve it, whether we do or not. There are huge advertising campaigns based solely on the premise of telling us we need more.

But look at what God tells us. He says we are not to covet what someone else has. We may want to take this list as being explicit. However, if we did, we would be mistaken. The list in today’s passage is merely a spattering of the more common items we may covet.

No, God does not want us to desire anything anyone else has. Why? God wants us to be satisfied with what he has determined is best for us. That may mean we have less than some and more than others.

God has blessed each of us individually. He has blessed us with a purpose in mind. As we accept his blessing to be what is best, we do not desire to have what others have but cherish what we have as a blessing from God.

By forgoing covetousness, we remove the danger of seeking to acquire what we desire by mischievous means. We eliminate the possibility we will sin to gain what we do not have. We trust God.

I pray we all trust that God knows what is best for us. I pray we do not covet what someone else has. I pray each one of us counts what we have as a blessing from God. Do not covet. Be satisfied. Be content. Trust God. God has blessed you. God knows best.

Exodus 20:13-17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Truth At All Times

Do you believe the Old Testament no longer applies? Does that include the ten commandments? Do you believe it is fine for people to tell false stories about you? Do you like people spreading false rumors about you?

There are some people who believe the Old Testament is outdated. In fact, there are some who think the entire Bible is outdated. But for some reason, when the ten commandments are discussed, nearly everyone agrees with them.

Back to people spreading false rumors. We don’t like them when they are spread about us. We don’t like them when they are spread about our family or friends. So, why do we continue to allow it to occur? It’s really quite simple. We don’t believe we can stop it. But we can.

How do we stop the false rumors? We stop spreading them ourselves. We stop putting any credence into them. We stop reading them online. We stop allowing false rumors to rule our lives and start living in the truth. When we believe something is false, we research it to determine the truth, and correct the false rumor by telling others the truth.

God has commanded us not to give false testimony. That does not mean only in a courtroom. It means at all times. Spreading false rumors is false testimony—even when we are repeating what someone else told us. As we obey God’s command to not give false testimony, we combat the false rumors in the world.

I pray we all commit to telling the truth. I pray we decide to stop spreading false rumors. I pray each one of us will do the research needed to combat the false rumors being spread. Do your research. Stop spreading false rumors. Combat the false rumors. Tell the truth. Obey God’s commands.

Exodus 20:16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”