“How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver” (Proverbs 16:16).

Wisdom and understanding are worth more than gold and silver. God created the gold and God made the silver. We can find it in the earth and look for it in the ocean basins of the world, yet, wisdom and understanding come from above. God’s wisdom and understanding will make you rich in faith and wealthy in hope.

We do so much that rides against us when we do not seek the Father above. God has given us His mind and that mind is the mind of Christ. Instead of running off with our own religious thoughts God will give us His thoughts if we desire them more than all.

Dr. R.G. Lee was one of God’s prince preachers. One time Dr. Adrain Rogers asked Dr. Lee, “When God calls you on, is there some way we could put your brain in my head?” He replied, with a twinkle in his eyes, “That would be like putting a grand piano in a closet!” Better than having someone’s brain in your head is to have the mind of Christ in you by the Holy Spirit.

Don’t go out looking for something that is right under your nose. When we become impatient with people or disappointed in life we turn too often to our own ways. Turn to the Word of God and train yourself to depend upon the Spirit of God at every turn. If the Holy Spirit is not our Guide and we depend upon our own thoughts then we are doing even religious things that are empty of the power of Christ.

Father please teach us with the mind of Christ. We are a new creation in Christ. Your heart is to lead us and teach us. Therefore You died to live in us. Thank you for keeping us safe from our own thoughts. Your wisdom and understanding affords to us your direction and leadership. Thank you for giving us truth below the surface of our own understanding. Amen

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (I John 2:1).

If you and I walk in the light we have victory over sin. We are to be open, honest, sincere and the light of God shows us where we are and what we are. It is unfortunate today that churches and Bible classes have been invaded with insincere people.

To walk in the light means to be honest with God, with ourselves, and with others. When we immediately sin we are to confess it to God and claim His forgiveness. And if our sin injures another person or persons, we need to ask forgiveness too.

A congregation was singing, “For You I Am Praying” and one turned to a man and asked “For whom are you praying?” The man was stunned and answered, “Nobody, why do you ask?” The man answered and said, “Well I heard you singing ‘For You I am Praying’ and I thought you meant it.” “Oh, no, said the man. I’m just singing.”

Pious words, pious talk! A religion of words! Instead of being doers of the Word we are more talkers of the Word. We must walk what we talk. Language and life must go together.

“And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons who were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave” (Numbers 19:19).

You and I live around death, decay, and indifference. As long as we are living for ourselves and the cross of Christ remains a distant thought from an even more distant past, you and I will not fully maximize the life we were to live.

 

We are dead in Christ. We are not to bring our self-centered thinking, fears, actions, anxieties, and desires into the new relationship. They have been crucified, the old self-life. We are all one in Christ. He is perfect, sinless Deity. A separation happens when we try to live apart from Him. We transfer our allegiance and identity to Christ.

 

As long as we live by rules and intellectualism and not by an ongoing participation in the death of Christ we will not see victory. It happens only through love that both honors and trusts in Jesus’ belief in Himself and what He has done for us on the cross.

Why is it that so few seem to have intimacy and fellowship with God? Many know about God but few really know God. We know His acts but very few of us know His ways. He’s in the vicinity, somewhere over there, but not intimately working here.

 

God is not free to flow His power through you and me unless we are identified with the death we experienced in Christ when we were born again. Until we realize and make the decision that we will die to ourself daily, and live to Him, we will continue to simply exist rather than maximize God’s good plan for us. We can not bring our old life into union with His life whereas we were made one.

 

God has given us the power of His resurrection through a brand-new reference point. How we view our self, others, our circumstances, and life must be all in Him. His life in me–my thinking, my acting, and believing must be His or there will be conflict and severance from His life. To be crucified with Jesus Christ establishes a brand-new reference for life–His life! This is the power of the third day, His resurrection life living in us and through us.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

 

Why do we give? Is it because it is traditional, seasonal, or even promotional? God gave because He loves us and He desires to meet a need. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves–He forgave us and washed away our sin and guilt. We should give to others because we love and we desire to meet a need.

 

How do we give? We give according to our means. We don’t break the bank. Also, we should plan what we give ahead of time. It should be thoughtfully and joyfully given. Your presentation of the gift reflects a part of you and your love for them.

 

What do we give? When we give we do according to how well we know the recipient. What are their likes, needs, and experiences? Will the gift match them? It takes thought and contemplation to find the right gift for the right person.

 

How do we receive a gift? Remember that our relationship to the giver is more important than the gift. We should be thankful and appreciative for the thoughtfulness, effort, and cost of the gift. We should receive the gift with a humble attitude. After the gift is opened expressing gratitude sincerely is appropriate and right.

 

There are some gifts that cost little in monetary value. It could be to keep the children for an evening, helping a neighbor clean their house, taking someone to the doctor, helping to fix a dripping sink, etc. God blesses those who give and He enables all to give.

 

“Let Down. Look Up.”

“Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket” (Acts 9:25).

The greatest day of Paul’s life, beside his salvation, was the day he realized that God’s plan for him was far better than his plan for his own life.

The chance of being let down by someone or something is 1 in 1.

Paul wanted to preach to his own people, the Jews, and went to them but they rejected him because of his new found message of grace in Christ Jesus. He had to be let down in a basket through a window over a wall to escape the bounty which was upon his head.

Paul wanted to go to the Jews but God said, “My plan is for you to go to the Gentiles, Paul.”

‘But my heart–‘protested Paul.

‘To the Gentiles, Paul,’ answered the Lord.

‘But my background—‘
‘To the Gentiles, Paul.’

‘But my training–‘
‘To the Gentiles, Paul.’

‘But, Lord–‘
‘To the Gentiles, Paul.’

‘But–‘
‘To the Gentiles, Paul.’

‘OK, Lord.’

Some of you will make this decision today. You’ll finally choose to say, ‘OK, Lord.’ And when you do, you’ll at last will find rest in your soul.

God is the Lifter of the Head

“And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.”                                         –Genesis 40:20

The Lord Himself is the lifter up of the head (Ps. 3:3). So many times we depend upon people to help us, but their help never comes. Psalm 60:11 says, “Give us help from trouble; for vain is the help of man.”

It was the third day that the butler and the baker were lifted up and out of imprisonment to be placed before Pharaoh. Pharaoh’s birthday meant salvation to the baker and condemnation to the baker.

Poor Joseph was left in prison–he who had done nothing amiss (Gen. 40:15). It was two years before the butler remembered Joseph before he would be freed. And God is the One who brought the situation to mind once again.

God is with Joseph as he waited upon His God (Gen. 39:21). Joseph had his own dream and we have God’s promise, He will never leave us. The experience of Joseph led him to serve others even while waiting in prison. God will allow each of us to wait upon Him so that he may “put iron into our souls” (Ps. 105:17-22).

Remember the power of the third day. God raised His Son and He will raise you and me up as well. If the Lord controls us, it makes little difference who commands us. God gives victory in the place of defeat, honor in the place of shame, health in the place of sickness, and restoration in the place of a fall.