Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Wisdom from Proverbs”
Our Bible verse for today: “Listen closely, pay attention to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge.” Proverbs 22:17 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Acquiring wisdom requires discipline and effort.”
In Proverbs 22:17 Solomon urges his readers to pay close attention to his words and to then make an effort to actually apply them to their lives. What he’s describing is a disciplined pattern of study that results in understanding, and then in application. It’s not enough to just know and understand the material – we have to then apply it. Knowledge doesn’t become wisdom until it is applied in a meaningful and practical way that makes a positive difference in the life of the person.
I love the way Peter described the effort involved in acquiring Biblical wisdom, and what it looks like in actual everyday life. Let’s read 2 Peter 1:5-8 from the Living Bible. The Living Bible isn’t an actual translation of the Bible, it’s a paraphrase. In other words, rather than giving us a word-for-word or thought-for-thought translation of the passage, a paraphrase strives instead to simply capture the intent of the writer and then communicate it in common and easily understandable language. Peter says:
“But to obtain these gifts, you need more than faith; you must also work hard to be good; and even that is not enough. For then you must learn to know God better and better and discover what he wants you to do. Next, learn to put aside your own desires so that you will become patient and godly, gladly letting God have his way with you. This will make possible the next step, which is for you to enjoy other people and to like them, and finally you will grow to love them deeply. The more you go on in this way, the more you will grow strong spiritually and become faithful and useful to our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Acquiring Biblical knowledge requires study. Turning that knowledge into wisdom takes patient application of Biblical truths day-by-day, moment-by-moment, situation-by-situation, and person-by-person. It’s a process that plays out progressively over long periods of time. It’s what author Eugene Peterson once referred to as “A long obedience in the same direction.” Each and every day we pray, study our Bibles, offer ourselves in service to the Lord and to others, and surround ourselves with other Christians who can serve as role models for us. As we continue to do that, we slowly but surely become wise in the ways of God, and we acquire more and more of the attributes of Christ.
Developing Biblical wisdom requires effort and discipline but it is well worth it. I encourage you to commit yourself to a lifetime of growing wiser and wiser.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 