Monday, September 10, 2018

Wisdom’s Rebuke

From The Word -

Proverbs 1:20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; 1:21 on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: 1:22 “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? 1:23 Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings....." (NIV)

My Thoughts -

How the Holy Spirit must despair at us. Can God despair? Jesus wept. Maybe the word I want is "grieved". How the Holy Spirit must be grieved at us. World leaders declare truth isn't true and church leaders are too busy protecting the wolves in the clergy to bother with unimportant issues like protecting the youngest of the flock. We can pick and choose where we get our news so we can be sure to only get to hear that our side is right & never wrong. If our views are never wrong then anyone who has a different view must be wrong and since they could get all their news from our sources, they must be evil because they refuse to listen to the truth. No, the Holy Spirit doesn't despair, I do! Pilate asked Jesus, "What is truth?"

Prayer -

Dear Lady, help us not to despair but to turn to you with an open heart & mind and ask "What is truth?" Help us to desire truth more than being right. Help us to seek the truth even if the truth is painful. Help us to listen to others even when what they have to say is painful. And help us to act on the truth.

Sunday, September 9, 2018

Wisdom & Understanding

From The Word -

Proverbs 3:13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.  15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.  16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.  17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.  18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. (NIV)

My Thoughts -

Wisdom is equated with understanding.  Maybe that is the key to the whole problem we have in the world today, too many facts with too little understanding.  In our rush to gather facts, we don't take the time to really look at the facts to see how they fit together, to understand.  Listening to people, I get the impression that pleasant, peaceful lives are in short supply.

Prayer -

Dear Lady, help me to take the time needed to understand, to find You.  Let me always walk with You in the pleasant and peaceful paths of wisdom.

Let It Begin

From The Word -

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." 1:27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (NIV)

My Thoughts -

In order for God to make a perfect image of himself, he had to create mankind male and female. The Bible is full of male images of God. The Father and Son of course are the male persons of God. That leaves the Holy Spirit who appears as a dove and fire in the New Testament. The Old Testament talks of Wisdom as a constant companion of God and as a woman. What if Lady Wisdom is the Holy Spirit? I am going to take a look at Lady Wisdom from that perspective.

Prayer -

Dear Lady, as we begin this dance, let me come to know you better. Open my heart and mind to all you have to offer me.