Wisdom

If you have ever watched one of the crime scene shows you have observed people who were skilled at acting like people who have the wisdom to solve complicated problems. We as a society entertain ourselves with people who act like other people. That is OK, because it can stir great things in us. It can also stir other things too. We need to know the difference between the actor and the reality. At some point in our lives we must move beyond “acting” in reality.

Knowledge of how to live + skill in living rightly = wise living.

We tend to live in a world where people pretend to know and others pretend to have skill. As believers in Christ Jesus we need to mature in both knowledge and skill. In the past generation we have viewed people who knew about scripture as mature, we did not require them to live what they knew. It is when you know and live well that you enter into the life of maturity.

In Eph 1:17 Paul prays that we would have a “spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him”. Paul understood that we needed skill and ongoing revelation to take the knowledge of God and have it affect our lives and world. Just knowing God is not enough. Satan knows God and it does not result in Godliness, holiness, righteousness or sanctification.

Take the wisdom challenge. Write out one truth you know about God. Now write out 7 ways to live out that truth in everyday living. To see if you are on the right track, see if the perspective is “from above”. God’s wisdom is un-wise by this world’s standard. The book of James will help us see this. Often wisdom is the very opposite of the ways of this world.

Since this is a season of election, you can ponder one thing about the rule and government of God. You may merge the reality of God ruling the nations even if they turn away from Him. What is the result? Not anger or malice! God takes no delight in destroying the wicked. So God’s wisdom leads us to hope and peace in the face of living in a land turning away from God. RE: Check out the China Christian worldview for a picture here.

Well enough said. It is not enough to know. We need to be wise!