GRACE (God’s Favor) COMES BY:

Posted on by BETH

FAITH

  • Hebrews 12:14, 15—Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.
  • Romans 5:2-4—By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope.

Continue reading GRACE (God’s Favor) COMES BY:

WHERE DOES WISDOM DWELL?

Posted on by BETH

Throughout the ages, man has attempted to define wisdom or to create a pithy statement illustrating its value.

  • Wisdom is the ability (skill) to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight.
  • A basic definition of wisdom is the judicious application of knowledge understood. The opposite of wisdom is folly.  Synonyms include prudence, sagacity, discernment, or insight.
  • “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” –Confucius
  • “Don’t Gain The World & Lose Your Soul, Wisdom Is Better Than Silver Or Gold.”—Bob Marley

By definition, mysteries are difficult to understand. Our Heavenly Father has revealed His manifold wisdom in the Scriptures, but only in a mystery. The entire body of knowledge (all truth) has been revealed through his knowledge of all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3), but not everyone can understand that knowledge since it is in the form of a mystery (1 Cor. 2:6-7).

Even the apostles were frustrated by the mystery but were thankful to understand snippets of truth, while Jesus spoke to them shortly before his ascension into heaven. Because they desired to know why he spoke in parables to the multitude, Jesus explained that the parables were so they would hear and not understand (Matt. 13:10-16). He then explained the process. He gave the multitudes knowledge of the mystery, but not understanding. Therefore, as soon as the knowledge entered their hearts Satan was there to quickly remove that knowledge (Matt. 13:19). Yet there were those who did understand (Matt. 13:23). Immediately they bore good fruit.  By this, Jesus made it clear to the apostles that knowledge was of little value without understanding. At the same time, without knowledge there can be no understanding. We must gain knowledge first, and seek understanding to that knowledge. As David taught his son Solomon, wisdom is the principle thing, but with all his getting he needed understanding too.

So where does wisdom enter this picture? When comparing knowledge, understanding and wisdom, one can see that he must begin with knowledge and gain understanding of that knowledge before he can attain to wisdom. The application of knowledge together with understanding brings wisdom. Can wisdom be defined as skill in using knowledge and understanding? Hebrew definitions of wisdom (h 2449; h2450; h2451) include: —intelligence, skill or artfulness. Using knowledge and understanding as a foundation, Wisdom applies justice, judgment and equity in everything she does. Although there may also be other less obvious passages where she speaks, Proverbs 8:1-9:6 is Wisdom calling to men.

Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it (Pro. 8:6-11).

“I wisdom dwell with prudence…” (Pro. 8:12).

GO TO THE ANT….

Posted on by BETH

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest” (Prov. 6:6-8).

Here in the tropics, we have every imaginable kind of ant. I am told that in Japan alone there are 262 different species, and it is estimated that there are about 20,000 different species of ants in the world. Each species has its own unique characteristics so that the whole subject of ants is mind boggling. These various types range from the tiny sugar eating ant in most American kitchens to the huge flesh-eating army ants in the jungles of South America.Fire Ant

If you watch ants for any length of time you will see that they really communicate with each other and very effectively too. Scouts return and communicate with nest mates by touching each other with their antennae, and they also, leave scent trails for others to follow. Young workers can be trained by older workers. “Nurses” feed larvae predigested food and help pupae emerge from silken cocoons.

This month, during the hottest season, tiny brown ants have invaded our kitchen and practically carried us away. As soon as I cook something, they are there to carry off whatever I might spill or drop. Even stew in a covered stainless steel pot attracted them within a few minutes, and they were literally swarming over the lid and sides trying to gain entrance. By carefully following the trail, we were able to block the hole so that they could not come again to annoy us, but that had tbe done over and over again. Each day, we left some bait to attract them and then diligently followed their trail to eradicate the colony.

What lesson can be learned from these tiny, diligent workers?

  • They are faithful and persistent in the execution of their duties.
  • They share and cooperate with each other and work for the benefit of the colony.
  • They often fight the enemy for the general good of the group.
  • They work without an overseer while it is “yet day.”

Can we as Christian women behave like these tiny creatures? The inspired writer of Proverbs says so. We should not be slothful in business or in our duties tour physical families. We also must not be slothful in our duties tour spiritual family. We need to consider these creatures of God and be wise.

“There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

  • The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
  • The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
  • The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
  • The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces” (Prov. 30:24-28).

Ants are only mentioned twice in the Bible, yet notice the admonition given about this amazing creature. “The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer… … Gtthe ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise” (Prov. 30:25; 6:6).

What is it that the Lord would have us learn from these creatures He has made? Notice two specific qualities as well as the resulting evaluation.

1. The ant is a creature that is not strong.

Do we sometimes feel weak and inadequate for the job we have been given? Are we seeing what God sees in our lives? We must heed the admonition Paul gave the Philippians when he said,

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith tbe content. I know both how tbe abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:11-13).

The Lord has told us that He is our deliverer, and that we need not trust in ourselves or man. Through the prophets, He has given us many such admonitions:

  • In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me (Psa. 56:11).
  • It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man (Psa. 118:8).
  • Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help (Psa. 146:3).
  • The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whos0 putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe (Prov. 29:25).

2. She prepares her meat (food) in summer.

  • “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame” (Prov. 10:4-5).
  • “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute” (Prov. 12:24).
  • “The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious (Prov. 12:27).
  • “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat” (Prov. 13:4).
  • “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men (Prov. 22:29).

3. She is wise and we should be like her.

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it (Matt. 7:24-27).

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing” (Matt. 24:45-46).

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:15-17).