Day Twenty Three
Wise - Discreet
Proverbs 31:26...She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction]...
1 Corinthians 1:18-21...For the story and message of the cross is sheer absurdity and folly to those who are perishing and on their way to perdition, but to us who are being saved it is the [manifestation of] the power of God.
For it is written, I will baffle and render useless and destroy the learning of the learned and the philosophy of the philosophers and the cleverness of the clever and the discernment of the discerning; I will frustrate and nullify [them] and bring [them] to nothing [Isaiah 29:14].
Where is the man (the philosopher)? Where is the scribe (the scholar)? Where is the investigator (the logician, the debater) of this present time and age? Has not God shown up the nonsense and the folly of this world's wisdom?
For when the world with all its earthy wisdom failed to perceive and recognize and know
God by means of its won philosophy, God in His wisdom was pleased through the foolishness of preaching [salvation, procured by Christ and to be had through Him], to save those who believed (who clung to and trusted in and relied on Him).
Can it be that simple...the message of the Cross?
Throughout the course of these writings, I have shared bits and pieces with you, of how God brought healing and change to my family. To share a little bit further, for over 15 years, I went through different types of counseling. There were therapy groups, counseling sessions, psychologists, 12 step programs, psychiatrists and the like. For over 15 years, I went and rehashed my hurts and wounds. For over 15 years, my focus was how hard I thought life had been and was, settling in my mind that this was my lot, to take strong doses of medications to try to find ways to deal with the depression and fears. The different psychiatrists told me that I had to take the medications for the rest of my life, as well as be in counseling. One actually said that I could not live without either one.
Week after week I went, attending this meeting and that meeting, even becoming a speaker at different special therapy functions. For a time, I seemed to be okay, working all the steps of counseling, having a sponsor to speak to as needed, letting off steam to the psychiatrists. Other times, I would rage in anger and frustration, waking in the mornings with such heaviness in my heart, popping a tranquilizer, trying to find some peace. Yet, in all those years my life never changed. The wisdom of man gave me no hope, only a temporary Band-aid.
During these times, and being a Christian, my pursuit was not God; it was man's wisdom. And man's wisdom said I was a victim. However, one day when I had reached the end of 'me', God moved in His mercy through the simplicity and message of the Cross and my life was changed. Can it be that simple?
Today, we hear many 'truths'. At any give time, we can turn on the television and hear men espousing their wisdom on different talk/news shows. In addition, for any problem that you can think of, there are a multitude of books, full of men's wisdom on finding a solution. People are mesmerized by what they see and hear, drinking it all in, looking for an answer, looking for hope. Things have now gone so far that there is actually a television program where grieving or curious loved ones, in trying to find peace, can communicate with their dead relative or friend with the help of a psychic medium, which incidentally, is strictly forbidden in God's Word. For the last several years, there are those who travel around, following aberrations of dead saints, who are said to speak messages beyond the grave. And in this time, in our society, as the pressures and problems escalate, as we listen to talks of war, people continue to look for answers through man's knowledge and wisdom.
The other night, while praying, the Lord strongly impressed a scripture on my heart over and over again...If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land...2 Chronicles 7:14. As I prayed, this passage echoed in my heart...it has nothing to do with man's wisdom...it is about God and His Mercy and Wisdom...that is where we fill find answers to the problems of this world...that is where we will find answers to the problems that hit our very homes and lives. Can it be that simple...the message of the Cross...humbling ourselves, seeking God, requiring Him, repentance?
God's Wisdom...our wisdom...God's Truth...our truth...God's Words...our words. When Jesus spoke, He spoke the Wisdom of the Father; He spoke Truth. And that Truth bore much fruit, accomplishing different things...it healed...it chastised...it soothed...it taught...it exposed secrets...it brought guidance...it provided cleansing...it rebuked the devil...it restored...it revealed. It only and always brought glory to the Father, and it is just as real and powerful for our lives today. On the other hand, the wisdom of man and his truth, while seemingly accomplishing much, in actuality accomplishes nothing more than that of a Band aid, a temporary answer. Because man's truth honors man as the solution instead of God...and the fruit is evident!
Oh how we need to get this into our hearts, the simplicity of the Cross, the provision made to us through the Blood of Jesus Christ. Can it be that simple?
War...the simplicity of the Cross. Disease...the simplicity of the Cross. Poverty...the simplicity of the Cross. Depression...the simplicity of the Cross. Wounded hearts...the simplicity of the Cross. Fear...the simplicity of the Cross. Marital problems...the simplicity of the Cross. Every problem known to man...the simplicity of the Cross. Can it be that simple...if My people...who are called by My name...shall humble themselves...and pray...
A hearts' cry...My Father God...how we need to understand the profound simplicity of the Cross...