Get it. Got it? Good!
Proverbs 4:7 (The Message)
Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom!
Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!
Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom!
You can't be any more to the point than that! Before you do anything else, before you choose a college, a mate, a job, words, career, path, home, friend, church, well...before you do anything...get Wisdom. It is disturbing to find it difficult to practice what is so simple to express. All I need to do is get wisdom. I said it; however, I am quite sure I have a much more difficult time putting this into practice. You see I am chock full of distractions when it comes to hearing and acting on the Word of God. I may have lost a few readers at that point but it is too important a matter to play to the crowd and work on my popularity quotient. The truth is rarely a matter of popular opinion; it is true whether it is accepted by the majority or not. That is the nature of truth; it is true all the time every time, no matter the time.
Before I am able to follow after the Word of God, I must be willing to reject my self-will and yield to the will of God. Now that sounds ordinary enough but it really is quite more complex than it appears. Denying myself, crucifying my flesh, casting down vain imaginations, all those evangelical terms are not as easy to accomplish as it might seem. You really can't "just do it". There must be a realization (understanding) that God is right and I am wrong and I have no choice but to trust Him no matter how it may inconvenience or embarrass me. (I'm getting the cold sweats already).
Let me try an illustration to make my point. I don't really think that we can understand the depth of our depravity or the horrible nature of sin until we are willing to look at the cross of Christ and see the gruesome nature of sin's price. We can make sin into many things if left to our own devices. What we call bad habits, God calls sin. What we justify, he stands ready
to judge. What we call the incidental process of life God calls being enemies of the cross. A clear view of Calvary brings great clarity to my sin nature and the saving grace of Christ. I need to see the true picture of sin before I can receive the real savior from sin. Only Christ can save. Christ and Christ alone and Calvary is the best understanding of that truth. Why did he die such an ignominious death? Why did he suffer so much humiliation and heartache at the hands of wicked men? One reason; my sins demanded it. It is difficult for me to go on here; the reality of my guilt is almost more than I can bear. Christ died because he loved me and wanted to fellowship with me. This is a bit more than I am able to bear, thank God for his wondrous love and matchless grace. I am grateful for the understanding I have received concerning my salvation. It has given me the will to strive to follow the Master and do His will. Have I failed? Yes. Will I make it? Yes. What He began in me He will finish in me. His promise I have come to understand and accept the wisdom of God concerning my salvation.
Ah, blessed understanding. Get it. Got it? Good!
Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom!
Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!
Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom!
You can't be any more to the point than that! Before you do anything else, before you choose a college, a mate, a job, words, career, path, home, friend, church, well...before you do anything...get Wisdom. It is disturbing to find it difficult to practice what is so simple to express. All I need to do is get wisdom. I said it; however, I am quite sure I have a much more difficult time putting this into practice. You see I am chock full of distractions when it comes to hearing and acting on the Word of God. I may have lost a few readers at that point but it is too important a matter to play to the crowd and work on my popularity quotient. The truth is rarely a matter of popular opinion; it is true whether it is accepted by the majority or not. That is the nature of truth; it is true all the time every time, no matter the time.
Before I am able to follow after the Word of God, I must be willing to reject my self-will and yield to the will of God. Now that sounds ordinary enough but it really is quite more complex than it appears. Denying myself, crucifying my flesh, casting down vain imaginations, all those evangelical terms are not as easy to accomplish as it might seem. You really can't "just do it". There must be a realization (understanding) that God is right and I am wrong and I have no choice but to trust Him no matter how it may inconvenience or embarrass me. (I'm getting the cold sweats already).
Let me try an illustration to make my point. I don't really think that we can understand the depth of our depravity or the horrible nature of sin until we are willing to look at the cross of Christ and see the gruesome nature of sin's price. We can make sin into many things if left to our own devices. What we call bad habits, God calls sin. What we justify, he stands ready
to judge. What we call the incidental process of life God calls being enemies of the cross. A clear view of Calvary brings great clarity to my sin nature and the saving grace of Christ. I need to see the true picture of sin before I can receive the real savior from sin. Only Christ can save. Christ and Christ alone and Calvary is the best understanding of that truth. Why did he die such an ignominious death? Why did he suffer so much humiliation and heartache at the hands of wicked men? One reason; my sins demanded it. It is difficult for me to go on here; the reality of my guilt is almost more than I can bear. Christ died because he loved me and wanted to fellowship with me. This is a bit more than I am able to bear, thank God for his wondrous love and matchless grace. I am grateful for the understanding I have received concerning my salvation. It has given me the will to strive to follow the Master and do His will. Have I failed? Yes. Will I make it? Yes. What He began in me He will finish in me. His promise I have come to understand and accept the wisdom of God concerning my salvation.Ah, blessed understanding. Get it. Got it? Good!