Jesus

11
Feb
2024
Value of Wisdom

Value of Wisdom

“And he said to the human race, ‘The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” Job 28:28

Wisdom Begins with Reverence

In a world obsessed with wealth, power, and pleasure, we need to refocus on what holds real value. This verse teaches that true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.

More than mere respect, the fear of the Lord is deep awe, reverence, and submission to God. It’s recognizing His unmatched greatness and bowing humbly before Him.

Do you approach God with a trembling, obedient heart?

Proper fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. It realigns our priorities and perspectives. When we stand in awe of the Almighty, earthly troubles grow smaller. Pursuit of selfish gain loses appeal.

Focusing our minds on His majesty floods our hearts with priceless wisdom. Ask the Spirit today to instill godly fear and wisdom within you.

Understanding Through Obedience

The second half of this verse equates understanding with shunning evil. As we walk closely with God, listening to His voice, wisdom produces moral discernment. We gain ability to spot wickedness and walk the other way.

Understanding guards us from foolish choices and the heartache they bring. We develop spiritual instincts to flee anything disruptive to our intimacy with Christ. But this understanding only flourishes through obedience.

As James 1:22 states, we must “be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Active surrender to God allows Him to sharpen our discernment.

Obedience and wisdom feed one other in a beautiful cycle. Are there areas of obedience God is calling you to? Take steps to submit today. Watch understanding blossom!

Greater Worth than Riches

Proverbs 8 lavishes praise on the excellency of wisdom, declaring it more valuable than rubies, gold, or silver. All the money in the world cannot purchase wisdom! It springs from a heart surrendered to the fear of the Lord.

A life applied in obedience to God blooms with discernment and insight no amount of wealth can replicate. Don’t envy those with overflowing bank accounts or prominent positions. Covet instead the priceless wisdom only God provides to the humble and obedient.

He is eager to grant it to those who earnestly seek Him. Treasure time spent in the Word, in prayer and worship, allowing healthy fear to take root. This is investment into eternally precious wisdom!

Pillars of Spiritual Maturity

As we journey through life with Christ, may we build our homes on the twin pillars of godly fear and spiritual understanding. One leads to the other in a cycle of growth and maturity.

When we awake with an awe-filled heart, eager to revere and obey God, He directs our paths and grants keen discernment. As we then walk out that obedience, the wisdom He imparts strengthens our resolve to honor Him above all.

This day, commit yourself fully to this beautiful process. Determine to treasure nothing above intimacy with God. The rewards of wisdom He bestows on the faithful heart are beyond measure!

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“One Minute with God”

Posted by onthesolidrock
10
Feb
2024
Unbreakable Bond

Unbreakable Bond

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. (John 10:29)

The Bible contains an amazing promise from Jesus that should give every Christian great comfort and confidence. Jesus says in the Gospel of John that God the Father has given believers to Him as a gift, and that no one can ever take us out of God’s hand.

Salvation Comes from God’s Grace

First, Jesus tells us that Christians belong to Him because God the Father has given them to Him. This means that our salvation does not depend on anything we do to earn it. Instead, it depends completely on God’s grace and love towards us.

Before time began, God chose us and set His love upon us. He saved us and adopted us as His own dear children, not because we were worthy, but because He is so gracious and kind.

Since our salvation comes as a free gift from God, we can be sure that He will not change His mind later and turn His back on us. He knew all our flaws and failures ahead of time, and he saved us anyway.

His love lasts forever, because God Himself lasts forever. Our security is based on God’s faithful promise, not our own efforts.

God Rules Over All Things

Jesus also reminds us that God His Father is greater than all. As the eternal Creator of the universe, God has supreme power and authority over all that exists.

No one can compete with Him or threaten Him in any way. Every king and every ruler must ultimately give account to God.

This means that God has the power to protect us and keep us safe no matter what may come against us. No enemy, no sickness or tragedy, no hardship or danger is too much for God to handle or shield us from.

God is mightier than any force in heaven or on earth. We can take refuge in him because nothing can overcome His strength and love for His people.

No One Can Snatch Us from God’s Grip

Not only is God supremely powerful, Jesus says, but He also holds on tightly to those who believe in Him. No one can snatch us out of His hand—we are gripped firmly by the Almighty Creator who loves us!

Just as a loving parent holds onto a small child to keep them from wandering into danger, God cradles us in His mighty hands. He keeps his eye always on us, guiding our steps. He surrounds us constantly with His comfort, strength and love.

We do not keep ourselves safe from enemies or hardship through our own power. We rely fully on God’s power and faithfulness towards us. Our confidence comes from understanding that the eternal, almighty Creator of the universe has promised to hold onto us tightly forever.

He will never forget us or let us slip through His fingers. His grip on our lives will never loosen or grow weak.

United with God Forever

This intimate bond between God and His people was made possible through Jesus. Jesus is God in human form who lived among us. He died and rose again to pay for our sins, making reconciliation between God and man possible.

Now Jesus invites us to be united with Him and with God the Father in a relationship of love. He wants us to know Him, enjoy close friendship with Him, and reflect His love out into the world.

Because of Jesus, Christians do not relate to God merely through laws or rituals. We have intimacy with God—we are united to Him by Jesus Christ our Lord! God embraces us as His own dear children and promises to keep us safe, loved, and secure in His hands forever.

Understanding this incredible privilege should inspire our deep love, gratitude and reverence for God our Father, now and for all eternity.

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“One Minute with God”

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration
08
Feb
2024
Representing the One Who Sent You

Representing the One Who Sent You

Luke 10:16 – “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Authority Not Our Own

When Jesus sent out the seventy-two disciples to preach and heal, he gave them authority to carry out those ministries in his name.

Their authority came directly from him. Jesus said whoever listened to them, listened to him. And whoever rejected them, rejected him and the One who sent him – God the Father.

The authority of the seventy-two was not their own but derived from being representatives of Jesus.

Weight of His Commission

This is an immense responsibility! The disciples went out proclaiming and demonstrating the kingdom of God with authority from heaven’s throne room.

People’s reception or rejection of them meant reception or rejection of Christ himself and the Father. That’s no small commission!

The disciples represented a direct delegation from the highest possible authority. Their message and actions carried eternal weight.

Faithfulness in Small Things

At first glance, the disciples were a seemingly ragtag group to bear such a sacred charge. Yet God often chooses the small, unimpressive and ordinary to carry his authority.

It’s easy to feel our words or deeds for Christ are insignificant. But there is no greater privilege than representing the Son of God to the world, no matter how humble the assignment.

Each act of faithful service matters.

Hearing from a Holy Envoy

The flip side is that every Christian today carries this same gravity as the seventy-two. Those we interact with are, in effect, hearing from a representative of the Lord himself through us.

Our character and conduct have significance beyond ourselves.

We must consider carefully how to represent Jesus well to others through both speech and action. What an honor to serve as His envoy!

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“One Minute with God”

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration
07
Feb
2024
Celebration in Heaven

Celebration in Heaven

Luke 15:7 – I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

The Lost Being Found

In Luke 15, Jesus tells three parables about things that were lost being found – a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son.

The stories illustrate God’s joy when even just one sinner repents and turns to him.

Jesus says there is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents. Heaven celebrates each time someone lost is found!

A Dramatic Rescue

Picture the intensity of the search when the shepherd realizes one sheep is missing. He urgently leaves the entire flock to comb the wilderness until he locates that lone, lost sheep.

When he finally finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and returns home eager to tell everyone the good news.

In the same way, God intensely seeks out each individual who is lost in sin, rescuing them through Christ.

The Extravagant Party

In the story of the prodigal son, when the wayward young man finally returns home, the father throws an enormous feast to celebrate. No expense is spared.

The lavish party expresses the great joy in heaven over a sinner changing their life’s direction.

God spares no effort or resource to reclaim his lost children. Each heart that turns to him prompts a celebration.

Our Part in the Rejoicing

As followers of Christ, we play a role in these stories.

We are the search party helping the shepherd comb the wilds for lost sheep. We are the woman sweeping diligently until she finds the lost coin. We are the older brother inviting in the prodigal sibling, extending grace and forgiveness.

Our actions and attitudes bring joy to heaven when they contribute to someone being found.

Be sure and join wholeheartedly in heaven’s celebration whenever the lost are found.

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“One Minute with God”

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration
05
Feb
2024
Dawning of a New Day

Dawning of a New Day

Malachi 4:1 – “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them.

The prophet Malachi lived during a spiritually dry time for the people of Israel. They had grown apathetic and nonchalant about following God’s ways.

Their worship had become empty ritual devoid of meaning. Spiritual blindness clouded their vision.

Yet Malachi assured the people that better days were coming. The present darkness would give way to a new dawn. God’s light would pierce the gloom and usher in an age of righteousness, justice and restoration.

Arrival of the Son

Malachi spoke of this coming day being heralded by a messenger who would prepare people’s hearts. This messenger turned out to be John the Baptist, who proclaimed the imminent arrival of God’s kingdom and called people to repentance.

Not long after John, God’s own Son stepped onto the stage of human history. In Jesus, the rising Sun arrived to scatter the darkness of sin and death.

Through his life, death and resurrection, Jesus made a way for people to be reconciled to God and experience new life in relationship with their Creator.

Judgment of Evil

Malachi warned that while the coming day would bring salvation, it would also bring judgement on the wicked and unrepentant.

Jesus affirmed this, stating that his return would be accompanied by a separation of good from evil, light from darkness. Those who stubbornly clung to sin would face the fire of God’s refining judgment.

The prophets used vivid imagery to depict this purging of evil. Now, having heard the good news and seen the light, no one has any excuse to remain in darkness. The day of reckoning is coming.

Hope for the Future

For those who follow Jesus, his return is not something to dread but to eagerly anticipate. It represents the full realization of God’s purposes – justice, peace and the restoration of all things.

On that day, the darkness will be banished for good and the Son will shine in all his brilliance. What a glorious future we have to look forward to!

Until then, we live faithfully in the present, reflecting God’s light to others and pointing them to the Son.

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“One Minute with God”

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration