Ecclesiastes 7:1-2 (NLT)
“A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born. Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies- so the living should take this to heart.”
Praise the name of Jesus! The songwriter says- “Praise Him, He is worthy to be praised, from the rising of the sun, until the going down of the same; He’s worthy, Jesus is worthy, He’s worthy to be praised!” I would like to thank our Lord Jesus Christ for you, my beloved readers. It feels like a long time has passed since we last connected. Yet isn't the Lord so faithful that He is still calling you and I to seek after Him as He continues to perfect all He has started in us. I encourage you today to continue seeking the Lord with all your heart and to grow in the wisdom and knowledge of His truth.
"A Life of Wisdom" is a request I pray you and me. A life that honors God which is based on the words written in Proverbs 4:7-13 (NLT), “Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you. She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown. My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths. When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble. Take hold of my instructions; don’t let go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.”
So, how do you know when the Lord is directing you into " A Life of Wisdom?" Have you ever been at a place where your decisions were unwise? I can recall making decisions to go to places I thought were best for me. Making decisions I thought were the will of God. Yet by His grace in the midst of it all, the Lord had to put up roadblocks to reroute me back to His will.
Last year, I can remember feeling an urgency for a mini vacation from work. I said to myself, even if it was only for 2 days away at a quiet place, it would be more than enough. That same week, I saw a flyer for a women’s convention in Jamaica. Immediately my eyes were drawn to it, so I made inquiries, and without asking the Lord in prayer, I booked my ticket (with insurance just in case). After booking the ticket, a sense of discomfort came over me, there was an internal tug of war. I knew deep within that the discomfort I was feeling was based on me not seeking the Lord first for His will. I had allowed my feelings to overpower the most important thing, the Word of God. Matthew 6:33 tells us to aways, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” By seeking the Kingdom of God above all else and intentionally, we will truly live “A Life of Wisdom.”
Throughout our life’s journey the Lord knows beforehand our thoughts and decisions. He loves us so much that despite our flaws He wants us to walk in obedience. He will turn things around for His Glory, especially when your heart is in the right place. So, after booking the ticket, and feeling the discomfort, I prayed to the Lord for His will to be done. You may have already guessed it, and if you didn't, the trip was canceled. As the Lord would have it, tragedy struck within that same month there was a death in the family. It just so happened that the funeral service was the same weekend I had booked the ticket for the women’s convention. The Lord wanted me to be with family to provide comfort and prayers rather than having a good time at a women’s convention. Someone might say, in this case, “You’re going to fellowship and worship together with other woman of God, so that’s a good thing." However, I believe the Lord wanted to reveal to me something even more important, His will. God's will for our lives at all times supersedes everything. Deep within my heart, I rejoiced, knowing that God turned it around that I could still go away but most importantly spend time celebrating a family member who lived to honor the will of God. When the Lord brought this to my attention, He also led me to the scripture in Ecclesiastes 7:1-2 (NLT)– “A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born. Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies- so the living should take this to heart.”
The Lord wanted to shed light on what is more important in this life. It doesn’t matter what we think is best. The most important thing should be what God says? For me, this experience revealed how obedience was teaching me how to attain "A Life of Wisdom." The Bible says, “Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give Him advice or teach Him? Has the Lord ever needed anyone’s advice? Does He need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach Him what is right or show Him the path of justice?” (Isaiah 40:13-14, NLT). Let us set our eyes on things above more than the things of this world. Our life is not our own when we say yes to Jesus. Paul gladly introduced himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the Gentiles with no apology. His Life of Wisdom was well-lived in order to please the Lord. “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly but understand what the Lord wants you to do” (Ephesians 5:15-17, NLT). As believers, take to heart what is more valuable in the sight of God! It's the best place to be. “A life of Wisdom” should be our daily aim with faith at work. Let us value what will last forever. With joy looking forward for an eternal life with Jesus Christ.
As your relationship grows deeper with the Lord, you will become more sensitive to His will. Having a desire to obey the Word of God is key, even when it hurts, OBEY! The wisest man in the Bible declared in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NLT) “…Hear now is my final conclusion: fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.” We are living in a time when people call right wrong and wrong right, and when good is called evil and evil is called good. However, as believers, this shouldn’t catch us off guard, for Jesus spoke distinctively about these times. Matthew 24:4-6 (NLT) states, “Jesus told them, don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, I am the Messiah. They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.” The Bible is our compass, the living Word, that came down manifested in flesh to guide us on how to live “A Life of Wisdom.”
In John 12:3-6 (NLT), watch how Mary displayed “A life of Wisdom."”
“Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair, the house was filled with the fragrance. But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor - he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.”
May the lord continue to bless and keep you always!!
Have a wonderful weekend, in Jesus' name.
Comments