TRUE WISDOM

READING: EPHESIANS 5:15-21

Verse 17: “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Passages of scripture such as 1 Timothy 6:17 and Philippians 4:19 establish that God gives all things to enjoy and supplies all our needs. James 1:17 affirms that God gives every good and perfect gift. Even so we are not always ready to accept what the Lord may be selecting for our lives at a given time. This is so especially when His choice stretches us beyond our comfort zones. At times like these, we may consider God’s choices to be hardships; not gifts. In one moment a person may be praising God for a blessing because it is pleasing. In the next moment that same person may rebel because of discomfort resulting from some change the Lord allows to come about. Holy Spirit wisdom is needed for application both in those times that we regard as good, as well as those times we don’t enjoy. There is such a provision. There is true wisdom that grants us peace in every condition and circumstance. That is wisdom that accepts as good and perfect every gift that comes from the will of the Father. Through and by acceptance of His will, all things will work together for good for those who are His. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What results from disagreeing with what the Father wills?

2. What do you think the Lord does when something is not going to work for good?

NEARSIGHTEDNESS

READING: MATTHEW 26:6-13

Verse 7: “A woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table.”

This was very expensive oil that was poured on Jesus to honor Him. The disciples considered what she did to be a waste, thinking it could have been used instead to help the poor. In their conclusion, the disciples were limited to what was taking place before them. On the other hand, the Lord Jesus was focused far beyond their limited understanding. He knew that He would soon be crucified and considered the oil to be for His burial. Even more dramatically, He knew what the woman had done would become a part of the eternal gospel. This scripture can, and should, be a great encouragement to us. So often we, like the disciples, draw conclusions that are limited to (and by) what we see before us. At these times we can benefit tremendously by trusting that the Lord is focused far beyond our understanding. That is so because His foreknowledge is operating at an infinite level, while ours is negligible. When we trust Him for His eternal vision and promises, we can receive comfort even in our shortsightedness. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What lesson can you think of, that is taught by the disciples’ response?

2. Is there anything you are doing in faith like the woman did?

NOTHING MISSING

READING: JOHN 21:4-11

Verse 11: “Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.”

There are times when the Bible leaves us to wonder about some details, and even some very important major matters as well. At other times we are told all we could want to know regarding some events. This verse represents the latter. The exact number of fish is given as Jesus caused the disciples’ net to be supernaturally filled. The miracle was fully accomplished because if, for example, the net had broken and the fish lost; the testimony would have been diminished. That was not the case nor was there any other incompleteness. The Lord ordered every detail so that nothing was omitted and so that all of the power of the miracle was displayed. Our Savior does every bit as much for our lives. He anticipates all of the details, even those which are impossible for us to predict. When we submit to His Lordship, His responses to us insure that we don’t suffer loss. His nets don’t break! That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What impresses you most regarding the above scripture and reading?

2. His nets don’t break, but why is it that ours sometimes do?

HE WILL BE WITH YOU

READING: PHILIPPIANS 1:27-30

Verse 29: “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” 

Suffering is very much an element of our Christian heritage . In fact, we are informed by the Bible in 2 Timothy 3:12 as well as Philippians 1:29 that suffering in Christianity is to be expected. There are also other scriptural statements that provide information about suffering. For example Acts 5:41 presents suffering as a privilege, and according to Galatians 3:4, it is never in vain. The life of Christ is a model for all who aspire to Christian living. In that role and He served to pattern the role of suffering. Hebrews 5:8 says that even He learned obedience by what He suffered. There are numerous additional scriptures on suffering, but Hebrews 2:9 is the last example for this reading. That verse depicts the act of Jesus suffering death as something crowned with glory and honor. Regardless of scriptural encouragements regarding suffering, we still often struggle when discomfort and suffering occur. At those times, though, we can and should trust His word. It assures us that He knows every time, place and purpose for this part of His plan for all who are His. He is and will be with us providing heavenly power and godly victory. In our times of challenge and struggle, we can be realistic about the difficulty that we are experiencing; while at the same time recognizing and accepting the presence of the Lord as God our comfort and victory. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What is the greatest gain you have experienced that has resulted from suffering?

2. How would human living be different without suffering?

ALERT: YELLOW, ORANGE OR RED

READING: LUKE 4:1-13

Verse 13: “Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.”

All who oppose unrighteousness must be prepared to consistently resist the temptations of the evil one. It is of tremendous benefit to us that the Lord Jesus established the ultimate model for this response in today’s passage of scripture. Our Lord used the word of God to decisively and powerfully reject the temptations that were thrust at Him. Even following His resounding victory over Satan, Jesus was still to be exposed to further attempts by His enemy to impair or destroy His ministry. This intention of the devil is revealed by the words “until an opportune time” in verse 13. Those words clearly demonstrate the devil’s intention to continue in his perseverance against Jesus. His attitude of persistent opposition against our Lord presents an emphatic warning to every Christian. We can be sure He also intends to persist against us. However, just as his efforts against Jesus were defeated, we too have been granted that victorious heritage from our Lord. Along with being warned, we are also assured. We have victory in our Savior! That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Would you consider your level of alert against the temptations of the devil to be guarded, elevated or high?

2. How are you appropriating the victorious heritage you have been granted in Christ?

THE EQUALIZER

READING: PROVERBS 13:7-11

Verse 7: “There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; and one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.”

It is quite phenomenal, but the gospel is powerful to level people and bring them to a common  ground of equality. It can reduce great differences to nearly nothing. When the gospel is applied to Proverbs 13:7, this truth becomes evident as related to earthly riches. We can first consider the rich  person who has nothing. His name is Ben and he has nothing financially. However, Ben accepts himself as rich because his identity is established by the gospel as his standard and measure of value. His self-perception is based on the gospel, not on the fact that he has no money. Then there is the poor person who has riches. His name is Clark. Although he has financial wealth, that does not constitute his identity. Clark also accepts himself as rich because his identity is established by the gospel as his standard and measure of value. His self perception is based on the gospel, not on the fact that he has financial roches. The worldly standard and measure of value would have Ben and Clark at opposite poles. However, as they meet together in the gospel they have the same identity. In the Old West, six-shooters were called equalizers. Compared to a six-shooter, the gospel is at least a thermonuclear equalizer and more. Phenomenal is the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ! That’s a thought - about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What would Ben and Clark have to say to each other?

2. What is another way that that the gospel could equalize?

THE BEST FISHING EVER

READING: JOHN 21:1-6

Verse 3: “Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘we are going with you also.’ They went out and immediately got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing”

At the time Peter and the others decided to go fishing, they were experiencing agony, confusion and helplessness. They had gone from living every day in the presence of Jesus, to severely mourning His absence from their lives. The Bible reveals a great deal about Peter’s personality. From what we know, we can conclude it is probable that, by that time, he just couldn’t handle any more inaction. He had to do something. So we find him announcing that he was going fishing. We can’t be certain of what he and the others expected to accomplish by fishing. However, this verse goes on to relate that fishing didn’t help them at all. Actually it may have added a note of disappointment or sense of failure to emotions that were already present. Likewise, when we are troubled in our lives, diving into human activities is not the best solution. As we read further in this passage, we see what did make the difference for them. The change in their situation that met their need, was the arrival of the Lord Jesus to care for them. That reality is a great “take away” from this reading for today. For them on that memorable day, and for us on any given day; Jesus is our great help in time of need. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Why did Peter choose fishing instead of other possible activities?

2. Why did the others so quickly follow Peter in his decision?