Wisdom Listens to Gain Knowledge

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
for gaining wisdom and instruction;
for understanding words of insight;
for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to those who are simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young—
let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance—

Proverbs 1:1-5 NRSV

Over the years, I have learned something that can totally frustrate me. I can teach all that I want; but, unless the person that I am attempting to teach is listening; they will learn nothing. They will not grow in knowledge if they are busy thinking about and focusing on other things while they are being taught. If you are in worship or in a small group, listen to the word of God imparted through by those who are serving or speaking. If you are out in the world, take the time, to be still and listen to what others have to say.

It is the wise person who would be still and listen in order to gain knowledge. 

May God help us to have a greater knowledge of his will for us and for all people so that we might serve him and his children more fully.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jesus Christ And Him Crucified

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. (1 Cor 2:1-5 NIV)

St. Paul was a highly educated man. Yet, he resolved to know nothing when he was with the people except Christ crucified. His focus, his thought, his talk was on nothing other than Jesus the Christ. He did not allow the fact that he was indeed a man of learning and of some status to get in the way of proclaiming the one thing that mattered: Jesus Christ and him crucified. Nothing else mattered. His utmost concern was proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus.

May it be that in all of God's church on earth that in whatever we say and do, it is done by the power of God's Spirit and not because we think that we are so important that it is we who can accomplish these things. Paul set his ego aside so that the Spirit might work through him. May it be so with all of us, as well.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Who Sees Us?

As hard as we might try there is no hiding our true motivations from the Lord. The one who created us knows everything about us. There is no hiding our works of darkness from Him. We can avoid all the wasted time and trouble of attempting to justify our sinful actions by simply learning to walk in the light of Christ; by allowing Him to take us by the hand and lead us.

We can hide our sins from others, sometimes. But, we can never hide them from God. God sees all. He knows all. No sense in trying to hide anything from Him. We may as well confess them and ask Him to keep us from our own evil ways so that we may know the joy that comes with walking in His Light.

God's Peace - Pr. J