Bible League: Living His Word Don't fool yourselves. Whoever thinks they are wise in this world should become a fool. That's the only way they can be wise. I say this because the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.There is the wisdom of the world and there is the wisdom of God. The wisdom of the world is wisdom that arises from the limited perspective of finite human beings. It is wisdom that is limited by a vantage point located within the created order. The wisdom of God, on the other hand, is wisdom that arises from the unlimited perspective of the infinite God. It is wisdom that is not limited to a vantage point located within the created order because it comes from the God who exists outside the created order as its Creator and Sustainer. Given the commitment to their limited perspective, however, the wise of the world reject the wisdom of God. Instead of acknowledging the Creator God as the ultimate source of all things, they elevate mere creatures to the status of ultimate source. Further, instead of submitting to the revealed wisdom of God's will and ways, they elevate their own will and ways above God's. At the extreme, what God has declared evil they declare good and what God has declared good they declare evil. It's not surprising, then, that the wise of the world regard the wisdom of God as foolishness. As a result, it's tempting for Christians to avoid the scorn of the world by accommodating God's wisdom to the wisdom of the world. After all, it's a lot easier. It's not easy swimming against the stream of accepted worldly wisdom, it's not easy being regarded as a fool by the wise of this age, and it's not easy dealing with their persecutions, whether small or great. If you are going to be faithful to God, however, then you must be prepared to be regarded as a fool by the world. The Apostle Paul says we should not fool ourselves about this. The only way you can be truly wise is to become a fool in the eyes of the world, for the limited perspective of the wise of this world is foolishness to the unlimited perspective of God. A stand must be taken. A fact of life must be accepted. The wise of the world will think we are fools. Instead of appeasing them, however, we must accept being fools in their eyes so we can be wise in the eyes of God. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJeremiah 3, 4 Jeremiah 3 -- Judah as the Polluted Land; God's Great Mercy NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Jeremiah 4 -- Judah's Devastation NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 2 Thessalonians 3 2 Thessalonians 3 -- Paul's Prayers, Confidence and Warnings for the Thessalonians NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Don't be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.Insight It would certainly be a surprise if you planted corn and pumpkins came up. It's a natural law to reap what we sow. It's true in other areas, too. If you gossip about your friends, you will lose their friendship. Every action has results. Challenge If you plant to please your own desires, you'll reap a crop of sorrow and evil. If you plant to please God, you'll reap joy and everlasting life. What kind of seeds are you sowing? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Isaiah 43:6 Keep not back.Although this message was sent to the south, and referred to the seed of Israel, it may profitably be a summons to ourselves. Backward we are naturally to all good things, and it is a lesson of grace to learn to go forward in the ways of God. Reader, are you unconverted, but do you desire to trust in the Lord Jesus? Then keep not back. Love invites you, the promises secure you success, the precious blood prepares the way. Let not sins or fears hinder you, but come to Jesus just as you are. Do you long to pray? Would you pour out your heart before the Lord? Keep not back. The mercy-seat is prepared for such as need mercy; a sinner's cries will prevail with God. You are invited, nay, you are commanded to pray; come therefore with boldness to the throne of grace. Dear friend, are you already saved? Then keep not back from union with the Lord's people. Neglect not the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper. You may be of a timid disposition, but you must strive against it, lest it lead you into disobedience. There is a sweet promise made to those who confess Christ--by no means miss it, lest you come under the condemnation of those who deny him. If you have talents keep not back from using them. Hoard not your wealth, waste not your time; let not your abilities rust or your influence be unused. Jesus kept not back; imitate him by being foremost in self-denials and self-sacrifices. Keep not back from close communion with God, from boldly appropriating covenant blessings, from advancing in the divine life, from prying into the precious mysteries of the love of Christ. Neither, beloved friend, be guilty of keeping others back by your coldness, harshness, or suspicions. For Jesus' sake go forward yourself, and encourage others to do the like. Hell and the leaguered bands of superstition and infidelity are forward to the fight. O soldiers of the cross, keep not back. Daily Light on the Daily Path 2 Samuel 24:23 "Everything, O king, Araunah gives to the king." And Araunah said to the king, "May the LORD your God accept you."Micah 6:6-8 With what shall I come to the LORD And bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, With yearling calves? • Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? • He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? Isaiah 64:6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Romans 3:10,23-26 as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; • for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Colossians 2:10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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