Posts Tagged ‘ Wisdom ’

Advent 2022 – Day 23: John 3:5

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

John 3:5, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Jesus came to live amongst us, teaching the truths of God and proving them with miracles, signs, and wonders.

Even the religious elite could see it, but they could not understand without help.

If the most religious and smartest could not understand the ways of God, what hope could the rest of us have?

Yet, God came to us, showing us how to understand how we are saved.

What does Jesus tell us about salvation?

Born of water: baptism does play a role, but this also tells us that only humans can be saved. (Fallen angels cannot be saved.)

Born of the Spirit: only those who believe and receive the Holy Spirit can be saved. (John 16:7-15)

This is difficult to comprehend, but only by trusting the Holy Spirit and the truth of the gospel of Christ can we inherit eternal life in Christ.

Jesus came to bring us life free from sin and in eternity with Him.

Christ has come, and we must seek the wisdom of His Holy Spirit and forgiveness of sins. (James 1:5; 1 John 1:9)

May we seek the Lord who has offered us His Holy Spirit, salvation, and eternal life.

Advent 2022 – Day 22: John 3:1-3

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:1‭-‬3, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Jesus came to live amongst us, teaching the truths of God and proving them with miracles, signs, and wonders.

Even the religious elite could see it.

The Messiah had come! It must be the Prophet that Moses spoke of (Deuteronomy 18:15-22), the one who would restore Israel!

Yet, God came to us, showing us how little we understand, that we need to be different.

The Savior had indeed finally come, but He was not what was expected.

To follow Him, to be saved, means becoming a new – renewed – person.

Jesus said we must be born again, but even one of the great teachers of Israel could not comprehend it.

Salvation is simultaneously so simple to grasp yet so difficult to understand.

Like Nicodemus, we must be wise enough to seek the Savior and to understand His teachings.

Christ has come, but we must seek Him and ask for wisdom. (Matthew 6:33; James 1:5)

May we seek the Lord who has offered us His wisdom and salvation.

Advent 2022 – Day 15: Matthew 2:1-2

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 2:1-2, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.

But God was not willing to leave us mired in our sin.

God came to us, born as an infant, weak, physically powerless, yet without sin.

And wise men came to see this miracle, to give honor and gifts.

Most people miss that our Lord has come to be with us as one of us.

We often still ignore Him.

Yet, God came to us, showing us that even in our ignorance He comes after us.

We may not have much to offer but our sin, and maybe we have great wealth and/or skills to give, but only the wisest seek God who has come.

May we seek the Lord who grants wisdom to the lowly and grace to the humble.

VerseD: Matthew 10:16

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

Matthew 10:16, ESV

We must understand this w world, but we are to be better than the world. Only with the help of the Holy Spirit and because of Christ can we do this.

VerseD: Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7, ESV

We like to think we know enough or can figure everything out ourselves, but if we don’t start with God, knowing He has a standard that we fail to meet without Him, we are fools. Yet God can make us wise and loving if we trust in Him.

VerseD: Proverbs 12:25

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Proverbs 12:25, ESV

Our fears and anxieties make us feel like the weight of the world is on our shoulders, but a simple compliment, encouragement, and especially the gospel of Jesus Christ can make all the difference.

VerseD: Philippians 1:9-10

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ

Philippians 1:9‭-‬10, ESV

It is the love and grace of God that helps us see the world’s schemes as well as beauty, helping us want to choose His good and perfect way.

VerseD: 2 Peter 1:3

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence

2 Peter 1:3, ESV

We like to think we understand life and our world, but it is only in Christ that we find true knowledge and love truly good lives.

VerseD: Proverbs 23:24

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

Proverbs 23:24, ESV

We all make mistakes, but wisdom is learning from mistakes: our own and those of others. It is also learning from our Heavenly Father, bringing joy to our earthly family.

VerseD: Proverbs 11:24

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

Proverbs 11:24, ESV

God blesses us, and we bless others with those blessings. Most importantly, God gives us the blessing of grace and forgiveness, and if we hold onto for ourselves we stagnate. If we pass on that blessing, we find more than we can fathom.