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Wisdom from Above

Desire for wisdom that comes from God. Some people equate wisdom as a vast knowledge of lofty things or things too difficult to comprehend by ordinary people. It may encompass that but it is beyond the vast knowledge of different matters. The Bible describes wisdom perfectly, clearly, and so beautifully that it astounds me to know that God’s children have free access to acquiring an immense wealth as wisdom from God.

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

– James 3:17 (WEB)

What is the kind of wisdom that God gives? How is it different from the wisdom of the world?

  • Pure. Uncontaminated by evil and wickedness. The wisdom of God has pure motive. It has no ulterior motives or selfish intentions. 
  • Peaceful. The wisdom of God does not create disorder or discord. It establishes peace and seeks peace.
  • Gentle. The wisdom from God is filled with gentleness. It is not rude or harsh. It is not impatient or irritable. It is driven by love.
  • Reasonable. God’s wisdom is open to reason. It is sensible. It weighs things with a balanced assessment of what is right and wrong and what is significant and not.
  • Full of mercy. Who would have thought that mercy is an act of wisdom? The wisdom that God gives is merciful to others. It looks at others with honesty and truth but it treats others with loving grace.
  • Good fruits. God’s wisdom enables a person to bear good fruits, which refer to the character moulded by God. God’s wisdom leads us to bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26) because wisdom makes us choose what is godly and pleasing to God.
  • Without partiality. God’s wisdom treats every one with equal respect. It does not show preference and favor over one person to another. It does not favor one circumstance over another because of personal gain.
  • Without hypocrisy. The wisdom from God acts with sincerity out of a pure heart that seeks to glorify God and show the love of God to others.

Every time we wonder if our wisdom comes from God, we can have this guide from the book of James. We could reflect if we decide with wisdom or not. We could evaluate if our actions through all the years we have lived are founded upon the wisdom of God.

We are to seek and aspire for wisdom like we aspire for great treasures because wisdom is far more valuable than precious gems.

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.”

– James 1:5 (WEB)

“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, The man who gets understanding.
For her good profit is better than getting silver, And her return is better than fine gold.
She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.”

– Proverbs 3:13-18 (WEB)

Wonderment

Thank you, Lord Jesus my Lord and Savior for your every day graces. I can not fully fathom how your love covers every wrong that I do. I praise you and I give you thanks because of your loving kindness. Indeed, your mercy never fails. They are new every morning. 🙏

A Different Way

God answers our prayers according to His loving and perfect will. Oftentimes, our understanding of God’s love is veiled by the trying times. We could not immediately understand how God’s work of grace is present during difficult times in our life. Yet, even in the turbulent moments of life, from the time we cry to God for help to the time He leads us to the solution, His love and grace remain present.

The story of Israel from Egypt to the wilderness is one such example of God’s loving perfect will executed beyond the understanding of man. When Israel was greatly afflicted by Egypt, God heard their cry of distress and called on Moses to deliver them from Egypt (Exodus 3). God heard the cry of Israel and today, He is still the same God who faithfully hears our cry of distress in times of difficulties.

In answer to the cry of Israel, God delivered them from the oppression of Egypt. We might think that God, being loving and merciful, He would naturally lead them to the easier way to bring them faster to the bountiful land flowing with milk and honey. But it was not so. God led the freed Israelites toward the wilderness.

“It happened, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God didn’t lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, ‘Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and they return to Egypt;’
but God led the people around by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea; and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt.”

– Exodus 13:17-18 (WEB)

God chose the wilderness, a longer and more difficult path, for the Israelites to journey because God knew that when they saw a war they would be disheartened, then they will decide to return to Egypt. God led Israel through the wilderness because He wanted them to reach the Promise land and enjoy the new life there. The difficult path in the wilderness is God’s way for Israel to move forward toward His ultimate will for them. The wilderness was God’s protection and God’s grace over Israel to help them walk in the path of His will. It drew them closer to Him as their God. The longer more difficult path gave opportunities for Israel to experience more the presence of God. It was not an easy way, but it was the best way because it was the will of God.

God sometimes leads us through the ‘wilderness’ of life. How many times have we walked in the “wilderness” and experienced difficulties? We cry for help from God, yet His answer comes quite different from what we had in mind. We seek God’s help but His salvation comes differently. God’s way is different from our way. Sometimes, God uses difficulties to draw us nearer to Him because He knew that if we have the easy way, we would turn back to the old sinful ways, or that we would not have the drive to continue walking in His will. We could not completely understand God’s ways, but it is enough to know that His ways are far above us. His love is infinite and everlasting. So, we can trust Him even when we do not understand.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says Yahweh.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

-Isaiah 55:8-9 (WEB)

Our problems, trials, and difficulties are ways that can draw us nearer to God. God uses them out of His perfect wisdom and loving will. We normally seek the easy way and the shortest path possible because it saves time, effort, and energy. But, God may lead us to the harder path to protect us from our own sinful inclinations.

Let us keep in mind that God takes care of His children just as how He took care of Israel. The difficult circumstances does not invalidate His goodness, mercy, and faithfulness. Instead, they amplify how great, loving, and gracious God is because in all things He works for the good of those who love Him.

“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.”

– Romans 8:28 (WEB)

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