by Chuck Ness
The ability to believe the Scriptures is within the hearts of each and every human being. However, because we have hardened our hearts we cannot believe. We need to humble ourselves and ask for Christ to enter our hearts. Then He will transform our heart of stone into one of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26), Once that happens our faith will grow, and with faith comes the knowledge and wisdom which can only come from the One true God.
If we truly are repentant, He will be true to His Word and unlock the door to that faith. Once it is believed and
received by faith, a whole new world of our God is open to us. Jesus comes
into our spirit and changes us, and that is when we begin our journey in the
development of a relationship with our heavenly Father. It is then that the
scriptures become a "Treasure Trove of Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding".
I know people who dismiss the Bible by claiming, "Its for the weak minded people." Back in the 1990s, a certain Atheist Governor was famous for claiming religion, "Is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers." I must admit, religion is a sham, but those of us who are Christian are not religious, we are followers of the one true God. Who are blessed that His Son shed His blood on the cross so our sins can be washed away forever.
Years ago that statement make me mad, but I came to realize that men like him fools who put their faith in the wisdom of the World. One day men whose hearts are of stone like his will be feeding the fire of damnation. Today I feel as Jesus did when He was on the cross and said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. Luke 23:34 Doesn't mean they will be saved, but our hearts will be blessed because we followed His example by doing His will not ours.
As we seek to know the Lord and do His will, He protects us. He becomes our shield. He protects those who seek to walk in integrity. He takes care of us. He guards the paths of justice for His children. Injustice runs rampant in this world. And it also comes to the house of God's children. When it does, if we will handle it with integrity and trust in the Lord, He will ultimately vindicate the righteous.
We have all experienced injustice. I have seen many injustices throughout my life against others and even had many directed at myself. I've been lied to and lied about. I have been misquoted, misunderstood and maligned. I have been cheated, shortchanged and disrespected. I have been used. And I must confess there were times where I wanted to retaliate against those injustices. What happened to me was wrong. They say it takes more of a man to walk away from a fight than it does to give in to one. Sadly I admit I have retaliated against many by getting into fights when I was much. I won a few and lost a few, but once I met Christ I had a change of heart. I realized that when I give a grievance to Him, He will fight my battles.
When the time of man expires and all is revealed, Gods justice for His children will prevail. Until then we must trust in Him in all things. Its difficult when things happen in our lives that we dont have answers for. When we struggle we wonder why and at times will ask, "Where are you Lord?" Where were you when I needed you the most? I'm reminded of the footprints in the sand poem, where we ultimately learn that we were not alone, Christ was always there for us. It was His strength that carried us through the pain. Without Him, we may very well have committed suicide, but His love held us tight, and gave us the strength to get past some of the most difficult moments in our lives.
When you become a born again Christian, the treasure of God is opened unto you. All the treasures of His mind are now available for you to use. Like a treasure hunter who is searching for diamonds, gold, and silver, once he finds it he ceases. Then he begins a journey as a collector of that which he found. When you find Christ, you begin your journey of collecting His treasure of knowledge and wisdom, which is "The mind of God." 1Corinthians 1:30"For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; (Proverbs 2:6)
I know people who dismiss the Bible by claiming, "Its for the weak minded people." Back in the 1990s, a certain Atheist Governor was famous for claiming religion, "Is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers." I must admit, religion is a sham, but those of us who are Christian are not religious, we are followers of the one true God. Who are blessed that His Son shed His blood on the cross so our sins can be washed away forever.
Years ago that statement make me mad, but I came to realize that men like him fools who put their faith in the wisdom of the World. One day men whose hearts are of stone like his will be feeding the fire of damnation. Today I feel as Jesus did when He was on the cross and said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. Luke 23:34 Doesn't mean they will be saved, but our hearts will be blessed because we followed His example by doing His will not ours.
As we seek to know the Lord and do His will, He protects us. He becomes our shield. He protects those who seek to walk in integrity. He takes care of us. He guards the paths of justice for His children. Injustice runs rampant in this world. And it also comes to the house of God's children. When it does, if we will handle it with integrity and trust in the Lord, He will ultimately vindicate the righteous.
We have all experienced injustice. I have seen many injustices throughout my life against others and even had many directed at myself. I've been lied to and lied about. I have been misquoted, misunderstood and maligned. I have been cheated, shortchanged and disrespected. I have been used. And I must confess there were times where I wanted to retaliate against those injustices. What happened to me was wrong. They say it takes more of a man to walk away from a fight than it does to give in to one. Sadly I admit I have retaliated against many by getting into fights when I was much. I won a few and lost a few, but once I met Christ I had a change of heart. I realized that when I give a grievance to Him, He will fight my battles.
When the time of man expires and all is revealed, Gods justice for His children will prevail. Until then we must trust in Him in all things. Its difficult when things happen in our lives that we dont have answers for. When we struggle we wonder why and at times will ask, "Where are you Lord?" Where were you when I needed you the most? I'm reminded of the footprints in the sand poem, where we ultimately learn that we were not alone, Christ was always there for us. It was His strength that carried us through the pain. Without Him, we may very well have committed suicide, but His love held us tight, and gave us the strength to get past some of the most difficult moments in our lives.
Now, I no longer fight against the hate, and injustices as I did
when I was younger. I now give it to Christ, and let Him fight my battles. You may wonder what all this has to do with wisdom, but it's the wisdom of Christ that gives us the knowledge so that we will truly understand that He is always with us, and will continue the good work He began. It
is but one of the things that comes to us as we gain the Wisdom of God.
Proverb 2 (NKJV)
The Value of Wisdom
01) My son, if you receive my words,
00 And treasure my commands within you,
02) So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
00 And apply your heart to understanding;
03) Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
00 And lift up your voice for understanding,
04) If you seek her as silver,
00 And search for her as for hidden treasures;
05) Then you will understand the fear of the LORD,
00 And find the knowledge of God.
06) For the LORD gives wisdom;
00 From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
07) He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
00 He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
08) He guards the paths of justice,
00 And preserves the way of His saints.
09) Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
00 Equity and every good path.
10) When wisdom enters your heart,
00 And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
11) Discretion will preserve you;
00 Understanding will keep you,
12) To deliver you from the way of evil,
00 From the man who speaks perverse things,
13) From those who leave the paths of uprightness
00 To walk in the ways of darkness;
14) Who rejoice in doing evil,
00 And delight in the perversity of the wicked;
15) Whose ways are crooked,
00 And who are devious in their paths;
16) To deliver you from the immoral woman,
00 From the seductress who flatters with her words,
17) Who forsakes the companion of her youth,
00 And forgets the covenant of her God.
18) For her house leads down to death,
00 And her paths to the dead;
19) None who go to her return,
00 Nor do they regain the paths of life--
20) So you may walk in the way of goodness,
00 And keep to the paths of righteousness.
21) For the upright will dwell in the land,
00 And the blameless will remain in it;
22) But the wicked will be cut off from the earth,
00 And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.
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