Wisdom

The Bible repeatedly tells us that God’s wisdom is readily available to us and would enhance our lives in countless ways, including the expansion of our lot in eternity, but sadly we choose to leave much of it unclaimed. The diagnosis? We love our sin way too much. We’re told that we leave a majority of God’s life-giving wisdom on the table because “simple ones love their simple ways” and “mockers delight in their mockery” (Pr.1:20-22). As Jesus put it, “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (Jn.3:20). We should consider what our sin is really costing us. We not only run from God when we sin, we run from the blessings of God’s wisdom. It is scary to step into the light, that is true. But that is part of the process. The truth is “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Pr.9:10; 1:7; 15:33, etc.) furthermore “the fear of the Lord is the fountain of life” (Pr.14:27; 19:23; 22:4, etc.). It may be difficult to “face the Lord” in moments of honest introspection, owning the ways we fall short, but don’t ever forget it is also the watershed of his enduring blessing.

-- Pastor Mike

For more devotionals sermons and resources go to http://www.focalpointministries.org/

Respect the Aged

There is a little verse tucked away in the book of Leviticus that reveals an oft-neglected value among those making a claim to godliness. We often miss these seemingly obscure biblical insights because we read much of the Old Testament as wholly obsolete for our new covenant Christian lives. While it is true that Christ has fulfilled the ceremonial rules of the Mosaic Law, so much of what God revealed to the early Israelite shows us his eternal values and changeless character. Consider Leviticus 19:32, “Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly.” Many would consider standing when an older person enters the room as some kind of stodgy formalism or just a cute southern tradition, but according to Leviticus 19, such gestures of respect are essential for those who desire to “revere the Lord” (v.32b). God tells us that the elderly among us should be granted our esteem, if for nothing else, because God has granted them grace to live to a “good old age” (Gen.25:8). Of course, in most cases there is much more for which they should be respected. Their many years of life-experience and accumulated wisdom should be a cause for our sincere expressions of respect (Job 12:12). So the next time a “senior” walks into your presence, may God’s value of the aged prompt you to sincerely convey your kindness and admiration.

For more devotionals sermons and resources go to http://www.focalpointministries.org/

Sin and Reproof

We intuitively like to think that what we do is right. “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,” the Bible says (Proverbs 21:2). But when we honestly reflect on our lives we know that we are not always right, and what we do is not always what we should do. That’s not hard to admit – as long as we keep it in general terms. The problems arise when someone dares to be specific in pointing out a wrong in our lives. Which, by the way, is something that will necessarily be taking place in any community of loving Christians who truly know and value the Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16). The ability to accept this kind of reasonable “reproof”, as the Bible calls it, is the difference between being designated by God a fool or a wise man. God’s word goes so far as to say, “he who hates reproof is stupid” (Proverbs 12:1). On the other hand, “The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise” (Proverbs 15:31). With so much at stake, it is regrettable that so many of us would rather be artificially consoled by the “deceitful kisses” of those who don’t really have our best interests at heart, than to be genuinely helped by the “wounds” caused by the corrective words of true friends (Proverbs 27:6).

-- Pastor Mike

For more sermons and devotionals on Sin & Reproof, please go to the Focal Point Ministries website at www.focalpointministries.org. 

Wisdom

We are far too easily impressed with the “wisdom” of this world. What our society lacks in truth, it tries to make up for with confidence. But with all the assertiveness of our culture, they have yet to settle the disparity between what they sense they need and what they actually have. In the words of 1 Corinthians 1, “The world through its wisdom did not come to know God” (1 Corinthians 1:21). But it certainly tries. Our western culture may have given up on gold and stone idols, but they still seek their ever-changing pantheon of gods in hopes of finding that ultimate fulfillment and lasting satisfaction. But the cisterns are dry, as Jeremiah wrote (Jeremiah 2:13). The fountain of living water, which Jesus promised would forever close the gap between what we need and what we have, cannot be acquired through the ideas and prescriptions of the world (cf. John 4:10-14). We must be willing to humbly concede that God has “made foolish the wisdom of the world” and that “it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:20-21). When by faith through the cross we are reconciled to our Creator and we find peace with our Maker we quickly learn that, “Christ is the power of God and wisdom of God, for the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:24-25).