If You Scorn Wisdom….

Wisdom comes from God. Embrace it, you benefit. Scorn it, you suffer. There’s no better explanation of the way some people think, trying to understand their lunatic logic, rather than applying this truth to their situation. Only wisdom can explain evil thoughts and behaviors. And only wisdom, knowledge of God, brings good judgement. It’s exactly what Jesus meant when He said, “you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free”. Wisdoms comes from experience. And experience changes our outlook when God is incorporated into our life. Aligning with God (through Jesus) is the foundation in which true life is built upon. It all begins with respecting (having a healthy fear of) our Maker.

10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. 11 Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer. Proverbs 9:10-12

Didn’t Have That Grace….

Continuing from yesterday’s entry about the blindness and mental distortion that occurs when sin is allowed in one’s life, we read about the religious leaders hearing about Jesus’ resurrection, denying it by bribing the soldiers to make up a story, and lying about what really happened. It’s really hard to believe that it’s possible for a human being to deny the very thing they dedicate their lives to promoting. Hypocrisy has a way of doing just that. And worse yet, all people hate hypocrisy, but only a few have the ability to see it in their own lives and do something about it. It’s only through God’s Spirit that we have the ability to recognize our sin. Then when our conscience convicts us, God gives us the power to repent, be forgiven, and are strengthened to move forward without the baggage that goes along with it. The religious leaders didn’t have that grace. At least they denied their sin when it came up. If you don’t think this exact behavior continues today, look at Washington DC. Look at our media. It’s on display, for all to see. Some even brag about it. How do you handle your sin when your conscience convicts you?

11 As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. 12 A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. 13 They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole His body.’ 14 If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” 15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today. Matthew 28:11-15

Farther..Longer… And Cost You More…

Can you imagine someone calling Jesus a deceiver? That’s exactly what the religious leaders called Him when they went to see Pontius Pilate. They called Jesus a deceiver. What type of mindset does a person have to have in order to call the Author of Truth a liar? Before you answer that, remember it’s what sin does to us that causes this spiritual blindness, which leads to this distorted view of truth. We all have that potential in us, waiting for the right moment to spring into action when Satan attacks us with his temptations. These religious leaders were so self-absorbed with protecting their way of life that they missed the very Person Whom they were supposed to be worshipping, standing right in front of them. The power of sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay. When sin tempts you to run from God, turn instead and run toward Him. It might seem counterintuitive, but the opposite of what you think is right when under its influence is exactly the remedy to your dilemma.

62 The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. 63 They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while He was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ 64 So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent His disciples from coming and stealing His body and then telling everyone He was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”65 Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” 66 So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it. Matthew 27:62-66

What He Experienced Was Overwhelming…

Imagine how lonely Jesus felt on the cross? What He experienced was overwhelming. Imagine being ridiculed by the leaders of your faith? Then by people walking by? And even two guilty sinners hanging on each side were making fun of Him? And lastly by the feeling of being abandoned by God Himself? Can you imagine the dismay, the loneliness, the despair one might feel in that situation? Jesus does, and He’s willing to share the hope that came from that event with you. What He accomplished on that cross that day, enduring the ridicule, the sense of abandonment, the loneliness, and the despair that this event brought, only intensifies the gift of God’s grace to us. Jesus knows suffering, for He endured the greatest sacrifice so that we will never suffer eternally. Trust Him with your life, for He is worthy. He knows us better than we know ourselves. By knowing Him, and His suffering, we get to know ourselves, and receive “life” in the process.

39 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. 40 “Look at You now!” they yelled at Him. “You said You were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if You are the Son of God, save Yourself and come down from the cross!”41 The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. 42 “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but He can’t save Himself! So He is the King of Israel, is He? Let Him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in Him! 43 He trusted God, so let God rescue Him now if He wants Him! For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with Him ridiculed Him in the same way. Matthew 27:39-44

What You Need To Heal….

The next time you’re struggling with rejection or disappointment with people, remember Jesus understands, He gets it. What He suffered through was more than any other human being ever to live, so He will understand what we are going through. And His compassion and empathy He will bring you, cannot be surpassed. Jesus gets you. He understands our pain and suffering. Go to Him today. Lay your burdens on Him. He will help you. He will give you exactly what you need to heal.

27 Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire regiment. 28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on His head, and they placed a reed stick in His right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before Him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on Him and grabbed the stick and struck Him on the head with it. 31 When they were finally tired of mocking Him, they took off the robe and put His own clothes on Him again. Then they led Him away to be crucified. Matthew 27:27-31

Experiencing Real Life….

Wisdom is the application of God’s word, and the experience that comes from it. When you make gaining wisdom your goal, your desire to know God’s word and will, and make it your priority to live it out in obedience, you will find true life. You will find favor with the Lord. Those that purposely ignore God to pursue riches, fame, vanity, and other selfish endeavors miss out on experiencing real life. It’s like they purposely injure themselves, then spend the rest of their lives either trying to heal, or trying to avoid the pain a Godless life brings, all the while blaming everyone else instead of themselves. And you wonder why there is so much misery and despair? They look forward to death to end their self-inflicted chaos. If you want proof, look at today’s society. Abortion prevents future suffering (by death) and called healthcare (to make themselves feel better about it), and assisted suicide (they think) ends the misery. As it says here, their actions show they love death more than life (knowing God). If you want to find life, it’s found in knowing God. If you want to crave death, ignore Him.

35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.36 But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.” Proverbs 8:35-36

Still The Answer To The Dilemma Of Sin….

To think that Jesus’ atonement for our sins happened on a cross in the Middle East over 2,000 years ago. But it still accomplishes its purpose today, and will continue to rescue lost souls in the future. If we hear anyone today proclaim the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus, this psalm, written by David over 3,000 years ago, should mean even more to us today. And people say the Bible is antiquated. It may be old-fashion, but it’s still saving souls 2,000 plus years later. It’s still the answer to the dilemma of sin. It still brings hope to hurting souls. And it still heals spiritually blind sinners. Old, out-dated, or irrelevant for the current times, is not an excuse for disrespecting God. His word and the souls of people are the only things that will last forever, no matter how it’s portrayed by the world. Tell these truths to the next generation, and you’ll not only fulfill prophecy, serving your purpose, but you’ll assist in the salvation of those not yet born.

29 Let the rich of the earth feast and worship.Bow before Him, all who are mortal,all whose lives will end as dust.30 Our children will also serve Him.Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.31 His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.They will hear about everything He has done. Psalms 22:29-31