Wisdom Seeking

Are you looking for wisdom? Do you long to gain understanding? Have you been searching for answers to important questions? Is there a desire within you to discover meaning in your life? Do you know where to find the knowledge you are looking for?

We all have questions. Whether we realize it or not, we want to know what our purpose is. We long to discover what we are meant to do, where we belong, and who we are to be with. Our search carries us to many people, places, and situations.

There is an old country song by Johnny Lee titled Looking For Love. The lyric in the chorus says, “looking for love in all the wrong places.” We can apply the meaning of this lyric to our search for wisdom. We look for knowledge and wisdom in the wrong places. We look to this world to fill us with understanding. Don’t misunderstand, going to school, being educated, is good. Yet, the discernment and understanding we need to gain wisdom does not come from the world but from God.

As we are told in today’s passage, wisdom is provided through the church. It is not that any one individual within the church can provide all the wisdom we desire. It is the collective wisdom of the members of the church that fulfills our desire. We gain insights from one person that we can’t gather from another.

In order to gain the wisdom we seek, we must be willing to talk with the various members, even those we may not particularly care for. We must participate in Bible classes. We must be attentive when the pastor preaches. We must pray to God for discernment. And we must spend time reading and studying on our own.

Wisdom doesn’t come quick nor easily. However, it won’t be acquired at all, if we are not active in the church, the place and group of people where God sheds His wisdom and provides understanding not found in the world—an understanding, not of how things work, but of the meaning of life.

I pray we all choose to be active in our churches. I pray we turn to God’s people for insights. I pray each one of us seeks the wisdom that only God can provide. Seek true wisdom. Be active in a church. Participate in Bible classes. Listen attentively. Pray for discernment.

Ephesians 3:10-11 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Mighty Power

Are you in need of strength today? Are you facing a mountain of struggles? Do you feel as though your world is crumbling around you? Do you believe there are evil forces at work against you? Do you realize how true that feeling may be? Do you know how to survive it?

As much as most of us don’t want or don’t like to admit it, evil is at work in our world. We face it on a daily basis. Satan likes to toy with us like little children. Unfortunately, far too many of us don’t know how to defend ourselves against him. There is only one way to do so.

The Apostle Paul knew all too well about evil forces exerting their will in this world. He gave us instructions in Ephesians 6:10-20 to fight against evil. All but one of his instructions were for defense. Why would that be? We are to take up a defensive position against the attacks of Satan and allow God to take the offense. In fact, the only offensive weapon is the sword of the Spirit, which is God in us. We access this weapon through prayer. Praying in the Spirit, through the Spirit, and in our full spirit is both defensive and offensive.

There are many who will not attribute the dissension, hate, discrimination, crime, and brokenness of this world to Satan. Their eyes are blind, and their ears are clogged. Their hearts are hardened. This is also the work of Satan. His schemes are many and varied. We often say all this is a result of human nature. True—broken human nature.

How do we overcome our brokenness? We must put our trust in God. We need to spend time with God’s people learning, reading God’s Word, and praying for wisdom. We must give up our own desires in favor of God’s desires. We need to learn how to put on the armor of God to protect ourselves from the schemes Satan throws at us.

We have a choice to make—fall for Satan’s schemes or protect ourselves with God. It isn’t always an easy choice. It isn’t typically a popular choice. Yet, if we want to live a life of peace, joy, contentment, and love, it’s a choice we need to make.

I pray we all choose to put on the armor of God. I pray we defend ourselves against Satan’s schemes. I pray we choose to dedicate ourselves to following God and trusting Him. Put on the armor of God. Spend time with Jesus’ followers. Learn from God’s Word. Spend time in prayer with God. Trust Him to protect you. Open your eyes and ears.

Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Content with Inadequacy

Are there times you feel inadequate? Do you get the feeling others look down on you because of where you come from? Is it because of the reputation your hometown has? Or is it due to their ignorance? Do you believe God can use you, no matter where you are from?

Many of us experience prejudice because of where we come from. We may be from small towns or the inner city. We may be from the beaches along either coast or from the farmland of the Midwest. We may be from the south or the north. We may be from another country.

Being looked down upon by others is not enjoyable. We feel like an outsider, less than others, like we don’t belong. We may even want to run and hide. Our desire to fit in causes us to feel guilty when we don’t. We strive to figure out what we can do to fit in the next time.

Here is the good news, God can and will use us, no matter where we come from. Take a look at today’s passage. There were some in the crowd that looked down upon and made fun of the apostles. Why? They were from the region of Galilee. You see, the Galilean region was widely known as a somewhat backward region of Israel. Many of them were fishermen and far less educated than those from Jerusalem. They weren’t cultured like the people of the big city.

The crowd was amazed to hear the apostles speaking in their own language. At a minimum, there were fifteen different languages and dialects being spoken by the apostles. This coming from people who typically only knew and spoke their own dialect. It would be like hearing a North Carolina fisherman speaking Japanese or Hebrew. Totally unexpected!

Some in the crowd made fun at them, stating they had drunk too much wine. Isn’t that what usually happens? Those who make fun of us do so in a ridiculous manner. Sometimes, it doesn’t even make sense. So, what are we to do? I suggest we ignore them and be comfortable knowing God has a plan for each of us.

Just like God used the less educated fishermen of Galilee, He plans to use us in ways we can not imagine. We simply need to be open to God’s plan. We need to listen for His guidance. God can and will use us, if we are willing, to carry out His bigger plan, even if we only play a smart part in it.

I pray we are all content with God’s plan. I pray we listen for His guidance. I pray each one of us ignore those who look down on us and rest easy in God’s love. Look to God in all situations. Know that God loves you. Know that God has a plan for you. Don’t worry what others think.

Acts 2:6-8, 12-13 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?”…Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Success Redefined

Are you looking for the pathway of a successful life? How do you define success? Does it include making lots of money? Is the right companion included in it? Does your successful life mean love, joy, peace, and contentment? Are you looking in the right place?

Success is defined in many ways, including a wide variety of inputs and outputs, by many people. For some, it is getting married and settling down. Some are driven by ambition, striving to rise to the top of the corporate world. Still others, long for a quiet life.

Most of us find our definition of success changes as we age and experience life. We find our youthful exuberance is replaced by a dogged determination to make it to retirement. Our naïve view of the world may be replaced with cynicism. We no longer see the world through rose colored glasses. We still long for something better, yet we see a broken world that isn’t getting any better.

Some of us see our lives as nothing more than what we accomplish in this world. We don’t look toward eternity and may not even believe it. We may live this life with little or no real direction, stumbling with no idea where we are going or what will happen next.

As the Psalmist states, we can be assured of a successful life. It may not include riches, but it includes a peace of mind knowing we rest securely in God’s hands. There is a peace knowing the Son of God gave Himself up for you so you can live successfully.

Knowing your path through life includes being in communion with the Creator of the world is comforting. Having the confidence your Savior is alive and by your side at all times provides a peace you cannot explain. It allows you to face life with a confidence others can’t comprehend.

I pray we all seek a life full of contentment and peace. I pray we know our Savior is alive and with us. I pray each one of us will seek the life God has planned for us. Know your Savior lives. Know He is always with you. Redefine success for your life. Trust God.

Psalm 16:9-11

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

my body also will rest secure,

because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,

nor will you let your faithful one see decay.

You make known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Shining Star

Do you desire a good reputation? Do you want to stand out among the crowd? Would you like people to say what a good person you are? Are you willing to stand out? Are you willing to put in the effort? Are you willing to follow Jesus?

Most of us want people to say good things about us. We want people to look up to us. We want people to say we are a good example for others to follow. Unfortunately, not all of us are willing to give up the faulty views of the world.

We often follow the crowd. We go along with what is popular. We go to the popular restaurants. We go to the popular stores. We watch the popular television shows. We follow the popular sports teams. We do what allows us to fit in.

We take on the popular views. Perhaps the views of our friends. Perhaps the views of our family. We may even take on the views we see in the news or social media. Doing this allows us to fit in with a peer group we long to be with.

Where does that get us? It makes us one of the crowd. We become as bland as everyone around us. We become part of the herd. We are just another person moseying down the same path as everyone else. We don’t stand out. We don’t obtain the good reputation we desire. We live a vanilla life.

To stand out among others, to gain a good reputation, we must be different. We must become blameless. We must become pure. We must break away from the corruption that is all around us. In order to shine as we were meant to, we must follow a different path. We must follow the example of Jesus.

All our complaining, arguing, and disgruntlement simply makes us part of the world. To stand out, we must give thanks to God for everything we have, for all our experiences, for His wonderful blessings. To be an attractive person who others want to follow, we must be better than the world we live in. We must shine like a star.

I pray we all desire a good reputation. I pray we want to stand out from the crowd. I pray each of us decides to follow God and become a shining star. Give thanks to God. Show others what it means to follow Jesus. Be a shining star. Hold firmly to God’s Word.

Philippians 2:14-16a Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.

Include God

Are you looking for fulfillment? Do you long for a full life? Do you feel as though there is something missing in your life? Would you like to be made whole? Do you want to rise above the riffraff? Are you willing to accept the answer?

By nature, we are all seekers. We seek to find love. We seek to find companionship. We seek to belong to a group. We seek to feel accepted. We seek to be independent. We seek to be successful. We seek to live the American dream.

We are born with the desire for something more. Even God stated it was not good for us to be alone after He created Adam in Genesis 2:18. We all need someone else to share our lives with to feel whole. Yet, even when we find the perfect mate, there is still something missing.

We were made to include God in our lives and even in our relationships. How can I say that? In Ecclesiastes 4:12 we are told “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” The third strand is God being included in our relationships. This is a true statement. Have you ever noticed a three-strand rope? Have you ever tried to cut one? Even with a very sharp knife, it is not easy.

Have you thought about the trinity? There are three—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each of them has a role they fill, yet they are one. When we include God in our relationships, we each have a role to fill, and we are one. Including God in our lives fills a void we are born with.

We obtain the fullness of life we seek when we are buried with Christ and raised to a new life in Him. We die to our old selves and rise as a new person. We rise with access to the power and authority over this world and all that has been created. Jesus, through His death, burial, and resurrection has given us the opportunity to become whole, to live a full life.

I pray we all seek to live a full life. I pray we include God in our relationships. I pray each one of us will decide to die to self and rise in Christ. Seek true fullness. Die to self. Rise in Christ. Gain access to the power of Christ. Include God.

Colossians 2:9-12 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Rivers of Life

Many of us have watched a young child play and made a comment about their boundless energy. It seems children never tire. Yet, when we observe them over the course of the day, we see them eventually wear down. In some cases, they simply collapse somewhere for a nap.

How would you like to have that type of energy? Many of us have said we would love to have it. Would we really? Do we really want to have so much energy we simply cannot sit still? Do we want so much energy we may not even be able to focus?

I truly enjoy watching hummingbirds from spring to fall as they fly around our house. We put out a couple feeders and typically have a half-dozen of them. They are fascinating to watch. They buzz around and seem to be in constant motion. Sometimes, they buzz right past your ear. They are the only bird that can fly backward. Amazing! But I don’t think I want that type of energy either.

You see, there are times when I like to be able to sit down with a good book and simply relax. I believe God put a need within us to relax, allowing our minds to slow down. I believe it is in those times we can and should focus on God. It is when we can relieve ourselves of the stress and pressures of life.

Yet, there is an endless flow that I do want in my life. It is the endless flow of living water, or the Holy Spirit, Jesus promised. It is the Holy Spirit who guides us, provides us with insights to God’s will, and who interprets God’s Word for us.

In our modern, civilized, and scientific culture, we have forgotten or pushed aside the Holy Spirit. Our faith wanes and we are worse off. No, we should not completely discount science. After all, God gifted scientists with an innate ability to think through problems logically and curiosity for knowledge. On the other hand, we must trust in the blessing of the Holy Spirit to be our moral guide. He is the intermediary that instructs us on God’s plan for us. Without His guidance, we stumble through this life blindly.

God promised the Holy Spirit would be given to those who believe in Jesus, those who commit to following Him. He didn’t promise a trickle, but rivers of Him. God promised and endless supply of the Holy Spirit to be our guide, helper, and advocate. When will we take Him up on His offer?

I pray we all commit to God. I pray we accept His offer of an endless supply of the Holy Spirit. I pray each of us will listen for His guidance and live by it. Commit to Jesus. Believe Him. Trust Him. Accept the Holy Spirit in your life. Listen to Him. Abide by His guidance.

John 7:37-39 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Inquisitive Minds

Are you an inquisitive person? Do you ask lots of questions? Are you a person who plans out your day or week? Do you have a 5-year and 10-year plan? Do you like to keep up on all the latest news? Does it frustrate you when you are surprised by an unexpected event?

Most of us like to plan how we are going to spend our time. Some of us only plan the next hour or two while others like to plan out weeks, months, or years. Planning has become a professional requirement, if you are in a white-collar job.

Some of us constantly seek to know more about what interests us. We may want to know more about celebrities, sports figures, world news, national news, or what is going on in our community. We look for information on the internet, in newspapers, on the radio, or on television.

When we combine being inquisitive with planning, we have a very organized person. Often, we think that person has their life together. We look at that person and think, “Wow! I wish I was like that.” Unfortunately, there is one event none of us know when it will happen.

Jesus tells the apostles (and us) that no one knows when He will return. Not the angels. Not even Him. Only the Father knows when that will happen. If Jesus doesn’t know when He will return, how can we know or listen to anyone else who thinks they know?

What can we do? We can plan for His return. We can follow Him with all our heart, mind, and soul. We can adhere to His teaching. We can follow His example. We can love every person as He loves them. We can treat every person with respect. We can tell others about Him. We can learn more about Him in order to become more like Him. We can prepare ourselves for His return.

Here’s the thing, regardless of whether He returns before we die or not, we are going to meet Him. It is inevitable. The final judgment will take place. We will spend eternity in one of two places. What we do in this life to prepare for eternity will determine where we spend it.

Make no mistake about it—Jesus will return. We will all stand with Him or against Him. Our lives are the time we have been given to prepare for that moment. We cannot accurately predict it. After all, the Jews had all the prophecy concerning when Jesus would come the first time and the vast majority missed it. So, let’s prepare for His second coming each day. Let’s all stand ready to see Him face-to-face.

I pray we all prepare for Jesus’ return. I pray we determine to follow Him. I pray each one of us choose to learn about Him and prepare ourselves for eternity. Read about Jesus. Follow His example. Prepare for eternity. Know where you will spend it.

Matthew 24:36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Waiting is Worthwhile

How well do you wait? Do you wait on a purchase until you have saved the money for it? Are you anxious for special days to arrive? Do you rush through a task you have been assigned in order to do something you want?

Patience is a trait many of us lack. As one saying goes, “Lord, give me patience and give it to me now.” We have become impatient, wanting our wants satisfied immediately. The ability to find information or stream videos via the internet immediately has only exacerbated our impatience.

We don’t like to wait to acquire things we want. We are willing to go in debt to acquire them. Simply look at the number of credit cards and loan companies that exist. Bring up the topic of paying bills sometime with your friends and listen to how many have balances on their credit cards or have loans for several large possessions. We count on being able to work and pay for them down the road so we can have them now.

We don’t like to wait to ask a question or tell about something that happened. We interrupt someone else’s conversation to get an answer or tell our story. Either we weren’t taught to be considerate, waiting until there is a pause in the conversation, or we have forgotten our manners.

We don’t want to wait for God either. We want Him to bless us with what we want each day. We plead with God to grant us our desires, what we think is best. Yet, God doesn’t work on the timeline we want. He blesses us as we need and holds some blessings until the time is right according to His plan.

Waiting on God can be hard. It means trusting He knows what is best for us. But our faith grows when we wait, sometimes when we are forced to wait. We see God’s timing. We see how perfect it is. We understand why God made us wait.

The apostle’s realized this truth when Jesus told them to wait in Acts 1:4-5. He had made a promise, but they were going to have to wait. When His promise was realized, amazing things happened. They became blessed beyond their wildest imaginations. Men who were average citizens became more powerful in God than any of their religious leaders.

I pray we all pursue patience. I pray we stop, think, and practice patience. I pray we decide to wait on God to bless us, just as He has promised. Practice patience. Wait on God. Know that He has your best interest at heart. God has a plan for you.

Psalm 27:14

Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord.

Community

What is most important to you? What do you commit to regularly? Is there something that is a priority that takes precedence over everything else? Do you set aside time to talk with God every day? Don’t you think you should?

We spend our time going to work, going to school, making meals, shopping, and taking care of chores around the house. We spend time watching television or programs on our computers, tablets, or phones. We peruse social media, keeping up with all our “friends” or celebrities. When do we spend time with God?

When we spend time with God in prayer, we are communing with the Creator of the world—our Creator. Perhaps you argue you were created by your Mom and Dad. That only occurred because God created and blessed humans to reproduce. God created all we see. He blesses it all in order for this world to continue to exist.

What about spending time reading God’s Word? As we spend time reading and studying His Word, we learn more about Him. You see, we learn through reading, contemplating, and experiencing God. By learning more about God, we learn how to improve our lives. We learn how to experience Him and gain joy, peace, contentment, and spiritual renewal.

Notice in today’s passage how the large crowd that gathered for Pentecost devoted time to learn and pray. A natural outcome from this was fellowship with other believers. Part of their time together was spent partaking in a meal. It is through fellowship around the table we often hear of someone else’s experiences with God, which continues our learning. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Prov 27:17).

A community of Christians needs to spend time together in order to continue their growth spiritually. It increases their faith. They experience God more fully. They care for one another. The work God has set each one of us to do is completed as a group. We share our needs, and they are met. God is pleased.

Prayer is a powerful communication method. Not because we are all-powerful, but because God is all-powerful, and He cares for us. It is through prayer that we give praise to God, make our needs known, and obtain a peace that goes beyond understanding.

I pray we all commit to gather with other Christians. I pray we spend time in prayer with God. I pray each one of us seeks a better life with God and our fellow Christians. Read and learn from God’s Word. Gather with other followers. Commit to prayer. Seek joy, peace, and contentment. Seek the abundant life Jesus promised.

Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.