Tag Archives: wisdom

Psalm 1 Wisdom

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I love to read the Psalms.  They were the hymn book from the temple.  What I like the most is that you can find one that fits your current mood and begin reading and by the end of the chapter your mood has changed like the writer.  At least this is what happens to me.

As I look at Psalm 1 I see some different lives listed.  We will take a look over the next few days at these.

I. A Wise Life – vs. 1, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

The Bible tells us that “Blessed” or happy (as an interjection how happy!) is the man that engages in certain things.  First of all the “Blessed” man does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly.  There are people that you can get advice from and there are people that you should never get advice from.

When you need counsel where do you go?  The first place a Christian should go is to our Father in prayer.  Then second place we need to go is to the Bible.  Then the third place we might go is to a fellow Christian that is mature in the faith.

Next we are told that “A Wise Life” is the life that “nor standeth in the way of sinners,”.  I was confused by this for many years.  Then upon further study and counsel from more mature Pastors I learned what this means.  This is telling you and I that this person is in the way of the sinners going the same way.  This is dangerous.  The only way that you and I should be standing “in the way of sinners” is to try to stop them from going to hell.

Then we see that “A Wise Life” is a life that “nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”    This is telling us that we must be careful not to get so far away from God that we begin to scoff at the way of the LORD.  In other words we get so far away from our God that we begin to make fun of the things that we once held dear.  This is dangerous ground.

Now, if you and I are going to live “A Wise Life” we are going to have to heed the counsel of God’s Word.  We know that wisdom comes from God and it is all through His Word.

So, how are you doing?

The Ant

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A few days ago my wife was starting her water running for her shower.  As she looked in to turn the water on she noticed an army of ants.  I cannot stand ants!  They make me want to scream.  Yet, they are God’s creation.  In my not so humble opinion, Noah should have left mosquitos and ants.I am sure they serve some purpose in His kingdom.  Thankfully they will not be in heaven.  Whew!

As I was pondering our ant problem a Scripture jumped into my mind.  Look at the wisdom of Proverbs 6:6, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:”  This winter has been a record breaking event as far as temperatures and snowfall.  These are not records that I am personally not interested in being broken.  I have no control over it so I must continue down the path of life that God has chosen for me to travel.

Really though, I am to go to the ant, consider her ways and be wise.  Then I thought.  When this cold weather hit the ants and other insects simply burrow deeper to avoid the cold.  So, this brings credence to the old saying, “What does not kill you will make you stronger.”  I don’t know who said it; but, it is good anyway.

So, the next time life throws some trial at you don’t bury your head in the sand like the ostrich.  Remember the ant and burrow deeper into Christ and thus become stronger and more Christ-like.

So, how are you doing?

Within The Covers

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Comedian Mark Lowery in one of his routines remarks that he was doing accountability work with his Pastor.  Because this usually meant a phone call earlier in the morning than Mark liked he decided to rename his bed “The Word”.  This way when his Pastor called and caught him still in bed he could honestly (or not so honestly) say, “I am in The Word.”

This really made me angry.  Not only is it deceptive; but, it is just plain sin.  Yes, I said that it is sin.  The Word of God is so precious and so important I don’t understand how someone that is supposed to be a Christian can do such a thing.  I guess it brings in money at concerts.

Within the covers of the Word of God is infinite wisdom, comfort, rebuke, and even the ultimate love and so much more.  It is a gold mine and it is up to you and I to get busy and mine out all the treasures that are held for us.  Will you take time today to do just that?  I sure hope that you will.  It will change your life for all eternity.

So, how are you doing?

 

The above picture was taken from the Independentbaptist.com e-mail newsletter.

 

It Is Your Choice

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Yesterday was our nineteenth wedding anniversary.  We celebrated by going to the eye doctor and then out to lunch.  While at the eye doctor we had to evacuate the building because of a gas leak.  It was in the thirties I believe.  Wow, what a trip that turned out to be.  The doctor felt horrible for us all as we sat in our vehicles waiting for the all clear.  We could have been very upset at this inconvenience; but, with us it was just another day of adventure.  Because of this incident my wife was able to take a very important phone call that she would have missed otherwise. We were able to hold hands and pray immediately for an urgent request.  I was glad for the inconvenience.

Sometimes God uses unpleasant circumstances to get us where He wants us to be.  I don’t always pass the test with flying colors.  Sometimes I fail miserably.  We need to step back from our pride and arrogance so that we can see that God is working in our lives and He has brought things about for a reason.

Parents of children with special needs should learn this too.  So many times we feel like God is doing this to us.  In all actuality, He is doing this for us.  When we endure these tough situations we become better or bitter.  If we can go through the storms of life with Christ leading us then we will be better.  Otherwise we just come out bitter.  Nobody wants to be around a bitter person.  People who are like Jesus attract others.  God help me!

Look at Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  or Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

So, how are you doing?