The following devotional was written by GEMS Training Manager, Lenae Bulthuis, to help us prepare for our theme next year.
Dear Sisters,
As the school year winds down or maybe is already complete in your area, keep vigilant in prayer for children. When you see them on the street, playing at the pool or in the park, at the mall or in your home, shoot arrow prayers of His blessings and favor on them. How’s that for a summer assignment that will change the world? Praying with you!
SEARCH FOR WISDOM
Search for it as for hidden treasure.
Proverbs 2:4b
One of my grandmother’s favorite stories about my dad was his high school study habit. She’d point to the kitchen chair by the front door. “Do you see that chair?” she’d ask. “When your dad came home from school he’d put his books on that chair and when he left the next day for school he’d pick them up again. I don’t know why he even bothered to take them home!”
Proverbs chapter one is an invitation to study: Take the books home. Chapter two is a call to begin: Open the books and study! Chapter one includes warnings to those who refuse the invitation; chapter two includes promises to those who accept the invite to search for wisdom.
Solomon, the primary author of Proverbs, understands that we always have a choice. In the first four verses of chapter two he uses the word “if” three times: IF you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and IF you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and IF you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure.
It’s an active, strenuous search. We must call out and cry aloud as if our lives depended on it! We must search for it like we do lost cell phones and car keys. It demands diligence and hard work. Jim Rohn said, “For every disciplined effort there is a multiple reward.” That certainly holds true for the search for wisdom.
Here are the promised rewards:
- Brings one to “the fear of the LORD.” Wisdom goes beyond the practical life lessons in Proverbs. It’s about the relationship – knowing, fearing, and loving God! Then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God (2:5).
- You will receive wisdom. Wisdom is a gift from God that’s only given to those who are persistent in the search. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding (2:6).
- You will experience victory. Wisdom gives you the ability to live life well! You’ll successfully walk God’s way. He holds victory in store for the upright (2:7a).
- You will receive protection to walk God’s way. Wisdom protects us by enabling us to say no to sinful choices. He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you (2:7b-8, 11).
Wisdom Step: How much effort have you put forth to search for God’s wisdom? God wants to be known and loved by you. Search for wisdom today. It’ll lead you straight to God!
What are our worst sins? They are chiefly our lost opportunities to grow in wisdom and in nobility of character. They lie in our failure to develop our fullest and best powers given to us by God.
Charles Shulman
No comments:
Post a Comment