Each Chapter is full of so many precious valuable jewels. I continue to be amazed by the desire of the Lord to give us the answers. God tells us how to understand the fear of the Lord and how to find the knowledge of God. I can’t help but wonder if we grasp the magnitude of how amazing that truly is. By treasuring the Lord’s commands, crying out for discernment, listening to wisdom and applying this understanding we will come to understand what it really means to fear the Lord. We will be able to find the knowledge of God. That seriously boggles my mind. We are to seek wisdom like it is the most precious treasure. The Bible gives us a comparison of something tangible (silver) so we can grasp the value. But do we really seek after wisdom, even the way we seek after money?
Wisdom, knowledge and understanding can only come from God.
"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." Colossians 2:8
There are many other ways that people try to find wisdom, knowledge and understanding, but the empty philosophies of this world will leave them thirsty for the truth.
I’m so encouraged by verses 7-9. It is a comfort to remember that when we are serving and walking with the Lord He will guard our paths and preserve our ways. We will be able to understand righteousness and justice. This lack of understanding really can hinder people from knowing the Lord. There is a strong misunderstanding of God when people ask questions like: How can a loving God send people to hell? How encouraging to know that walking with the Lord will give us the capacity to understand His righteousness and justice.
The fruit of wisdom and knowledge is discretion. True understanding keeps us on the narrow path.
The seductress…I know that the Bible is referencing this as a prostitute or an adulteress, but that doesn’t generally apply to most of us. What I do think applies to many of us is the way we can tempt or stumble men with our words or the way we are dressed. If a man looks at a woman lustfully he commits adultery. There are many ways we can’t control that, but there are several ways that we can. Modesty and purity of our minds will help us not to be seductresses in our hearts.
Many blessings await the faithful followers of Christ. But there are severe warnings for the wicked and unfaithful and the end of this chapter. We should not only use this to remember to be faithful in our own walks, but to encourage others to seek the true path of wisdom and understanding.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Chapter 2 reminded me that God really doesn't ask for much. He asks that we follow his commands and that we strive to meet his expectations of holiness and, in return, he showers us with blessings. He provides us with wisdom (I'm always praying/begging for lots more of this!) and protection and a clear path to follow.
Like you said, Nickole, I know that the Bible is referring to the woman as an adultress (or similar); however, I read a warning in the sacred words that is a reminder to surround myself with people who are godly, faithful followers. Temptations come in many forms and, often, through other humans.
More wisdom for all of us, Lord...
In addition to being encouraged by the safety of God and that I can be spared from fear last night, I was also lying awake deeply disturbed by some things I have been learning (some from facebook) about some of our former highschoolers and some others and the paths they are choosing (none of my fb friends by the way, just things I have seen from comments on friend's posts made by others and such) I am praying that Lonny and I will have better success with our own children than we did with many of the highschoolers we pastored. (not that we are responsible for the paths they are now choosing, or in any way responsible for those (fewer) who have turned out so well) Reading this 2nd chapter was encouraging me to pray for those but also that I dont have to be lying awake plagued with disgust at these things (particularly v12-14 seemed to apply) "I will be delivered" from those. These people are certainly not pursuing me but disturbing thoughts of them are! Also, I was quite convicted by parts of the passage that mentioned words like "treasuring", "crying out" searching and seeking after these treasures as silver... I am far from there myself, so before I start worrying about everyone else I suppose I had better check myself! :)
Post a Comment