Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
… knowledge and depth of insight,
Summary: Knowledge and insight are related but different. Understanding why we need both can greatly enhance our relationship with God.
Before we move on, we need to spend a few more minutes exploring what “knowledge and depth of insight” mean. To review, Paul starts this passage with these words:
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight …”
Continue reading “Philippians 1:9b – Godly Love – Part II”
… as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…
Summary: Paul’s words on teaching and admonishing lead us to reflect on what the Lord’s church was intended to be and to meditate on what it might become in the future.
When was the last time you attended a church where the Statement of Beliefs page included these words, “Members are expected to teach and admonish one another with all wisdom”?
I’m guessing the answer is, “Never.”
Continue reading “Colossians 3:16c – Something to Think About”
Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom …
Summary: Paul’s letter points us to a test for determining if a religious rule or regulation truly honors God.
If we are going to be able to recognize the kind of “rules” that Paul is talking about, we need to pay close attention to the clues Paul gives us. His first clue is that “Such regulations [aka ‘rules’] … have an appearance of wisdom …”
What does that mean?
Interestingly, the Bible has a lot to say about “wisdom.” The first thing to know about wisdom is this:
Continue reading “Colossians 2:23a – The Wisdom Test”And pray in the Spirit on all occasions … with all kinds of prayers and requests.
Summary: Today’s passage leads us to look at another letter of Paul’s where he expands on this topic of praying in the Spirit.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:18c – All Kinds”—not as unwise but as wise
Summary: Wisdom is a word that describes a state of mind. We attribute wisdom to the things people do when they work out well. People who are careful how they live and keep their eyes on Christ do well.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:15b – The Light of Christ”… but rather thanksgiving.
Summary: Paul has a simple instruction for us, when we talk, we should speak words of thanksgiving. Finding something to be thankful for can be a challenge. Fortunately, when we step back and take a look at the big picture, our reasons to be thankful become clear.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:4b – Worse Than Death”… according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Summary: Sometimes, it helps to use a little imagination when trying to sort out what God is telling us through his Word.
Continue reading “Ephesians 3:11 – The Wisdom of God”… the manifold wisdom of God
Summary: Manifold wisdom is a concept that requires some thought to understand. How can many answers come from one source? With God, all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)
Continue reading “Ephesians 3:10b – Gems of Wisdom”
And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.
Genesis 3: 15
The Perfect Gift
Today’s “Wisdom Wednesday” text is not from the traditional wisdom literature in the Bible. Instead, we are looking at the wisdom of God in action.
Today we celebrate the birth of our Savior. The reason we need a savior is that Adam and Eve could not resist the wiles of Satan. Having sinned, they became spiritually dead, separated from God. At the same time, they were able to see something they had been protected from while they were alive in God. They could now see evil. The tragedy was (and is) that people do not always recognize evil for what it is.
Continue reading “Wisdom Wednesday – Merry Christmas!”It turns out that today’s “Wisdom Wednesday” post is found in the next installment of James…
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Finding Wisdom
What good is wisdom? What does it buy you? How is a person with this thing called “wisdom” any better off than the next one who has none? What is wisdom anyway?
Continue reading “Wisdom Wednesday – James 1: 5”