Tag Archives: wisdom

November 28
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“Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”  (James 3:13, NIV)

Deeds done in humility are particularly fragrant because the person performing the deed is not doing it to draw attention to herself.  Wisely, she sees a higher purpose and a bigger plan in play.

The greatest deeds, by God’s estimation, are performed in obscurity; the left hand unaware of what the right hand has done.  The greatest deeds provide help to the helpless; hope to the hopeless; and they empower the disenfranchised.

Everyone — regardless of title or status — can live a life of humble service to others and to God.  Make this your ambition.  With wisdom comes humility.  – Luther

REMINDER: Daily Encouragement will be on break tomorrow (Sunday).  It is the first Sunday in Advent, the season of preparation for the coming our King as an infant!  Have a great day in worship, and remember to exhibit mercy and humility in all of your dealings — particularly the difficult ones.  Lord willing, see you on Monday! 

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November 11
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“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”  (Hebrews 12:14, NIV)

Conventional wisdom is not God’s wisdom.

Conventional wisdom says, “Do unto others as others do unto you.”  God’s wisdom says, “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”

Conventional wisdom is earth-bound.  Follow it, and you’re only as good as the crowd.

Godly wisdom is heaven-bound.  Follow it, and you’re good for God.  Live it, and you will not only see as God sees; but you also will see God.

To be holy is to be as God is, and begins with seeking reconciliation with everyone – particularly enemies and foes; looking past the outward appearance to the heart; valuing the things of heaven over the things of earth; and redeeming time for eternity.  – Luther

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August 26
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“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.” (Psalm 111:10, NIV)

How many times have we have heard (or said) the lament, “I wish I knew then what I know now”?

Knowledge alone will not keep us from foolishness.  On the contrary, for many people, a discovery becomes a kind of “dare.”  We do a new thing, not because we ought; but because we can.

Knowledge plus “experience” over time develops wisdom, but there is a short-cut: The abiding fear of the Lord.

Many of us reject the idea that we ought to “fear” God.  The problem here isn’t the concept, but our view of the word “fear.”

I fear God the same way I “fear” electricity: I do not understand electricity, but I do rely on it to light my nights, to power the devices I need to do my daily work, and in a hundred other ways.  In these connections, I am quite comfortable having electricity in my life.

I also know (from admonitions, not from first-hand experience) that no matter how comfortable I may become with electricity, if I stick a knife into a live circuit, I will learn why electricity — because of its nature — ought to be feared, and treated with reverence.

When we have “fear” or “reverence” of the Lord, His word becomes the highest authority in our life.  When we allow God to inform our thinking, to guide our actions, and to challenge our planning, we have both the knowledge of today; the wisdom of the ages; and a lot fewer instances of, “I wish I knew then what I know now.”  – Luther

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