Daily Devotions based on the Sermon Series: “Thoroughly Equipped”
Week 3 of 4: “Faith that Defines Us!”
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: Five Blessings of Faith!
When you need information, where do you turn?
When you need wisdom, where do you turn?
If I need information on how to change the brakes on my car, I search on YouTube for a video showing someone else explaining and doing the task. I can take in the information and then take the actions it has demonstrated.
If I need wisdom for a life decision, I don’t go to YouTube and search for information. I go to a respected friend or family member who has not just information, but intelligence and practical experience. Individuals who know the information but also know how to apply that information in a given circumstance.
Wisdom is knowledge rightly applied.
It’s hard to put wisdom in a text book or on Wikipedia. Wisdom can sometimes counter the objective facts. Wisdom can sometimes be counter intuitive. Wisdom does not always make rational sense.
Faith gives us a connection to wisdom that will always be right and benefit us and others.
Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
The ability to have God-given, Spirit-driven wisdom ONLY comes through our connection to the Lord, which is ours by faith.
As the Apostle Paul gave thanks for the faith God had given the Ephesians (yesterday’s devotion), he now asks God to give them “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.”
Ephesians 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Notice the purpose of this wisdom. It’s not for “wise” financial investments. It’s not for “wise” business decisions. It’s not even for “wise” relational input. It’s “so that you may know him better.”
Paul prays for God’s Spirit to give the Ephesians wisdom so that they may know GOD better.
This is my prayer for each of us.
The truth is, the fear of the LORD IS the beginning of wisdom! So if true and lasting wisdom starts with our connection to the LORD, it makes sense that the more we know the LORD, the wiser we become.
The world has lots of wisdom to offer…academically, scientifically, psychologically, politically, relationally, etc. The challenge is that very little of that today starts with a foundation of knowledge based on the LORD.
The LORD desires his wisdom to affect every aspect of our life.
Too often I fail to pray for the Spirit of wisdom. Too often I rely on my own human wisdom to figure something out.
Recently a friend asked when I presented him with a challenge I was facing, “What does God have to say? Did you ask him?”
I hadn’t. But I am learning to tap into more often the connection to wisdom our faith gives.
I invite you to do the same. Don’t hesitate to ask God to give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.
Apply: Take time to read through the Proverbs…its full of the Spirit of wisdom!
Prayer: Lord thank you for faith that connects me to the Spirit of wisdom. Remind me to always seek your wisdom first in every decision and activity of life! AMEN.