Practicing Love Toward All

 

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:1–4 ESV).

 

Happy Valentine’s Day! It is not coincidental that I chose “practicing love toward all” as the focus for continuing our study in the gaining and using of wisdom in our lives today. After all today we celebrate love. Valentine's Day is our annual celebration of romance and affection, which is celebrated by couples and friends alike, typically through exchanging greeting cards, gifts, or enjoying shared experiences.

 

Knowing that I wanted to write about love today has caused me to have a bit of anxiety. It would be easy to get off path and wander into the tall weeds surrounding the many divisions of politics and culture. That is absolutely not my intention. However, with that said, I must also say that our present culture does not develop an environment where we can practice the love of God toward all people. It seems we have strayed so far from the model of Christ that it is hard to recognize genuine love, much less practice it daily.

 

Scripture does not shy away from urging us to keep the commands of God in focus. Moses taught the Israelites, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart… soul and… strength. These commandments… are to be on your hearts… Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:5-9).

 

Humans are incredibly forgetful, and the Spirit knows how often we neglect to focus our hearts and minds on the Lord. We often seek the wisdom of the world before we seek the wisdom of God. Galatians 5 lists love and faithfulness with the fruit of the Spirit, who calls us to live like Jesus. Jesus always showed these characteristics. As we engrave love and faithfulness on our hearts, we will grow more open to being led by the Spirit before being led by anything else. I wonder if we think enough about love each day? I hope it is the root from which wisdom will spring forth and bear fruit in your life!

 

Practice Prudence

 

O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. (Proverbs 8:5–12 ESV).

 

The word prudence is not one we use or hear very often. But the book of Proverbs has a great deal to say about it. Prudence can be defined as the ability to discipline yourself, to manage your affairs well, and to discern and have good judgment. We need prudence so that we can make good decisions and not act rashly or too quickly without first considering the costs or consequences.

 

In Proverbs, Wisdom calls everyone to gain prudence. We should act with discernment, thinking carefully even if our intentions are good. For example, it can be good to give money for important causes, but we should first pray and discern how and where to give it so that we can be sure our gifts are distributed well.

 

Jesus encouraged his disciples to have prudence. He says in the Gospel of Luke that if you want to build a tower, “won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” (Luke 14:28). In a similar way, Jesus wants us to assess the cost of being his disciple. We need to consider his words and discern his ways so that we can confidently follow his example and set our hearts on him.

 

One of the key elements of gaining and using prudence is in the intentional development of our minds. That is done through consistent study and mentoring. If you do not have a trusted mentor, pray that God will unmistakably lead you to that person. Through the years I have had great mentors as well as been a mentor to others. Think of such a person as your “coach” in the spiritual realm. Then, as you become more adept in using your gifts and talents, you will find prudence becoming a natural behavior.

 

Draw Quicker, Shoot Straighter!

 

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. (Proverbs 4:23–27 ESV).

 

When Mary and I moved back to Texas, nearly ten years ago now, one of the things we wanted to accomplish was for her to become comfortable with firearms. I like to shoot and we thought it would make another opportunity for a short outing together if she could learn to shoot and become licensed so that we could go to the range together. We found an excellent certified firearms instructor and both signed up for the course. As you can see from the picture, she became very proficient in the use of her pistol. We had quite a few outings to the range before our health began to interrupt the frequency of such outings.

 

Now, you may be wondering what this little story has to do with developing wisdom as our series continues. I often tell people that they must learn to “draw quicker and shoot straighter” in their effort to be all they want to be in their journey with Christ. The concept is that we have a great weapon in the Scripture. In fact, the Apostle Paul calls it the “sword of the Spirit” (cf. Ephesians 6:17). However, just like any weapon, if you are proficient in its use, it is not merely useless, it is also dangerous.

 

Regret is something that everyone struggles with. Depending on the situation or circumstances, the emotions of regret can linger for months or even years before one is able to refocus. Many of us are inclined to look back on what could have been or should have been. People can also tend to look behind them to “the good ol’ days,” when life may have seemed sweeter, simpler, and less frantic.

 

But whatever might cause us to fixate on the past, our reading today encourages us to look ahead. This is not because it’s bad or inappropriate to look back. We can learn a lot from our past mistakes, trauma, or the good times we enjoyed. However, Scripture calls us not to linger in the past but rather to glean from it (however long that takes) and then look ahead. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way: “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2). This is wisdom. This is how we can draw faster and shoot straighter against our enemy! Read, study, understand, and practice using the Scripture!

Setting the Right Foundation

 

The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. (Proverbs 3:19–23 ESV).

 

Setting the right foundation for a house involves analyzing soil conditions. Is it clay, sand, or rock? What’s the moisture level of the ground? What kind of structure will it be? Will it require a slab, crawlspace, or basement? What is the frost line? Of course you must ensure it is level and square to prevent future structural issues. Key steps include professional site preparation, clearing, proper drainage planning, and allowing sufficient concrete curing time. Setting a proper foundation for anything can be a difficult and sometimes complicated task. The same can be said about going the wisdom of God.

 

Our reading today gives us a “first-step” in acquiring the wisdom of God. Proverbs tells us that the Lord God, our Creator, founded the heavens and the earth by wisdom and understanding. The New Testament gives us some clarity on this. Now that Jesus has come, the mysteries of God have been revealed. As the apostle Paul puts it in Colossians 1:16, “In him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth . . . all things have been created through him and for him.” The apostle John also notes that “in the beginning was the Word [Logos]” and that “through him all things were made.” What’s more, “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us,” and he is “the Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-3, 14).

 

So, Christ himself is our source of heavenly wisdom, of knowledge and understanding from God. He is the foundation and the means by which we can grow. This means that if we are to pursue wisdom, we will find it in Jesus and no one else. There are many ways to accomplish this; however, the most reliable is through the Scripture. The foundation of wisdom is found through the Scripture which is written and inspired through the Holy Spirit. Without an understanding and application of the truth in the Scripture, you will not have a strong foundation of wisdom. Set your foundation in the Bible.

 

The Great Treasure Hunt

[Jesus said] “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matthew 13:44 ESV).

 

The reading today is most often called “the Parable of the Hidden Treasure.” John Calvin writes of this parable: “… the kingdom of heaven is like a hidden treasure. We commonly set a high value on what is visible, and therefore the new and spiritual life, which is held out to us in the Gospel, is little esteemed by us, because it is hidden, and lies in hope. There is the highest appropriateness in comparing it to a treasure, the value of which is in no degree diminished, though it may be buried in the earth, and withdrawn from the eyes of men. These words teach us, that we ought not to estimate the riches of the grace of God according to the views of our flesh, or according to their outward display, but in the same manner as a treasure, though it be hidden, is preferred to a vain appearance of wealth.”

 

In every life stage we learn to ask questions and seek understanding to be “successful.” In school we ask questions when we don’t understand. At work we gain experience and learn to do our jobs well. To own a home, we figure out how mortgages and interest rates affect our finances. It seems intuitive to seek wisdom in every area of our lives, and yet we often ignore the wisdom of God. Maybe that’s why Jesus compares it to a hidden treasure.” We are called to actively search for insight and wisdom from God so that we can know the Lord.

 

Scripture urges us to make the knowledge of God the most important knowledge that we can gain—more important than any other type of insight or wisdom. The knowledge of God and his wisdom help us see everything else more clearly. By the wisdom of God, we have greater wisdom and insight to do our tasks here on earth with a kingdom focus.

 

In the coming days we will look at some practical ways to seek this treasure… I hope you will join me on this great “treasure hunt”!

  

The torn Curtain

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:51–54 ESV).

 

Our reading today describes a very important element of the death of Jesus. At the moment Jesus died, the curtain in the temple was torn open “from top to bottom.” The temple was the place of God’s presence among his people. The innermost section was called the Holy of Holies. It was the most sacred of places within the Temple; it was the place where God’s presence was focused. A thick curtain separated it from the rest of the temple, and only one person, the high priest, could go into that room once a year, on the Day of Atonement, after going through an elaborate cleansing ceremony (cf. Leviticus 16).

 

In a sense, that curtain was a lasting reminder of the barrier God had used to keep Adam and Eve from the garden when they had fallen into sin. It wasn’t that God didn’t want people in his presence. The problem was that because of sin, no person could survive in God’s presence. God’s holiness and purity cannot mix with human sinfulness.

 

But Jesus’ death for our sake changed all that. The writer of Hebrews wrote: “We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body…” (Hebrews 10:19). Jesus took away our sin by his death, opening the way for us to approach God again and enjoy life in him. The Holy Spirit now comes to us in the quickening of our spirit allowing us to respond to God and He restores our relationship forgiving our sin.

 

So many times I hear people tell me what they need to do to earn God’s favor and receive His presence. That is so far from the truth of Scripture. Everything necessary to receive the fulness of the presence of God has already been done. God has come to us because of the atonement that Jesus accomplished in His death, burial, and resurrection. You don’t need to go anywhere of do anything to have God’s presence and power; He has already given it to you. Enjoy Him! Rely on Him! Fellowship with your heavenly Father! 

God's Broken Heart

 

When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:1–8 ESV).

 

Ancient Greek philosophers imagined a perfect supreme being without emotion. This god would know everything and be in control of everything; however, it could not be influenced by people or other creatures, because that would imply weakness or lack of control. It could not have emotions or be truly responsive to humans. The Greeks called this supreme being “God.” The early Christian church developed in a world that was heavily influenced by this Greek thinking. So Christian theologians often used those ideas to explain Christian teachings to Greek-minded people. Even today, our concepts of God tend to be influenced by those perspectives. That heresy is known as Gnosticism. It holds that knowledge is far superior to emotion. The Apostle Paul warned the early churches against this understanding of God (cf. 1 Timothy 6:20).

 

When we come to a passage like our reading today, we might think, “What?! God regretted what he had done? He changed his mind? Human sin hurt God to the depths of his heart?” That doesn’t fit well with our Greek-minded ideas of an emotionless supreme being. So, we try to explain such verses away and not take them at face value.

 

But God wants us to realize that our actions—good and bad—affect him. When I hurt a friend, that puts a barrier between me and that person. Similarly, our sin grieves Him. Effectually we reject His presence. It sets up a barrier between us and him. He knows the pain that will bring not our lives which causes Him to grieve. Because of that, God has made a way forward for us. As we confess our sins to God and receive his forgiveness through Jesus, we are then free to experience the fullness of His presence. Do you need that restoration today? Confess to Him. He will restore you!