"Wisdom & Hope"

Day #50 (WOW!) - 'A Woman of Faith' Devotional
Verse: "Know that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off." Proverbs 24:14 NIV

v.13-14 MSG "Eat honey, dear child—it's good for you— and delicacies that melt in your mouth. Likewise knowledge, and wisdom for your soul—Get that and your future's secured, your hope is on solid rock."

Wisdom and hope actually do work together -- if we walk in wisdom, we walk in the true hope that the Father will do and say what He says He will. We need to walk out our lives optimistically, with much hope and faith. We cannot judge by circumstances or appearances around us. To become truly wise, we must seek the wisdom of God. Now, we know that God's thoughts and ways are much higher than ours, but He can give us a little piece of His wisdom so that we may make clear and concise judgements and thoughts.

We must seek after wisdom, for God will gift us with that which we desire, when we trust in Him. God will guide us and direct us in the ways that He sees fit for our lives, but again it's still our choice which way we are going to follow.

There are some deep subjects that require a lot of wisdom on our parts as Christians and believers today. There are things that the world and the government/political/educational systems cannot see or perceive as being right. Such as forgiveness. God's forgiveness goes beyond our worldly view of forgiveness. Unfortunately some people in the world choose to do 'bad' things. They are not 'bad' people... they are 'good people' who choose 'bad' things. Sometimes we get involved in things that we shouldn't have, and sometimes it is before we are saved. When we pay for the 'crime', and accept Jesus, repent, and ask for forgiveness, God sends our sins and iniquities as far from Him as the east is from the west. He remembers them no more, as we have been forgiven, as Jesus paid the debt of our sins once and for ALL. We are 'new creations' (2 Corinthians 5:17). The world however has to 'protect the innocent' (which is good in itself) but then they proceed to use our past faults against us (which is not so good sometimes in the way they do it), even though we have made a fresh new start. Unfortunately, because there are those out there, who are there to manipulate, continue to sin and enjoy it -- the innocent (those who have been made innocent through the Blood) people who are striving to make a 'new beginning' cannot be a part of some of the things that they love to do, or are called to do, due to past mistakes. People making a 'new beginning' to live a CHANGED life, who have criminal records, etc... should be treated equally. If they have truly repented, and are truly changed through the blood, and received pardon from the world's view, they should be able to have a new start --- obviously under strict observation, if they are put into situations that consist of the things that got them into trouble in the first place. (This would be where applied wisdom comes in!) Remember, we ALL have sinned, and ALL fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Before we start 'bashing' someone's good name, we should take a look at the plank in our own eye. People in the media must be careful of this when they write or publicly state public matters with their own (and other's) personal opinions. "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. Don't be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don't reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you're only being cute and inviting sacrilege." (Matthew 7:1-6 MSG)

(Same verse in the NIV translation - "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.")


Wisdom and hope go together - - for we have hope that God will work everything out in His plans, for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes. God does allow trials and tests to come into our lives, as it says in His word, that '...in this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.' (John 16:33 - See yesterday's 'Genuine Peace' devotional here) We also need to play the 'forgiveness' card to those that are judging us (or our friends/family) and saying these things about us. We need to be WISE in our reactions and reciprocations. We should not repay evil with evil.

I really love the way that God works... I have had this devotional since last year, but didn't read it faithfully nor meditate on it as I am doing now with these 'devotional passages' that I am writing. I know that each devotional is for me... yet it is also for you who are reading these. They however are totally matching things that are going on in the world around me... my friends, family, co-workers, etc are having struggles, and these verses remind me of how faithful God is. I can use the words from the Scriptures to help those in need. I truly am blessed with a GREAT God, a great amount of HOPE and FAITH, and even wisdom. God has made me wise in ways I could not imagine. I thank Him, as I even am getting 'choked up' a little thinking of how amazing He is! Continually thank Him for even the little things in life that He does... 'cause yes it is Him that is doing it! "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous." (Albert Einstein -The World As We Know It)

So after you are blessed by these words, get out there and use the Scriptures to bless someone in return. That's what I'm gonna' do!

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING!