A dear sister in Uganda sent the above pic. of Zirobwe town, and also sent a number of verses and encouraging thoughts to me this morning and again this evening, regarding God’s love for His children and our responsibility to Him; As well as the joy of reading of the focus which she encouraged to consider, my attention was taken by a word in the verses: “wisdom”.

1 Corinthians 1:19  “For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”… 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.”

God’s wisdom and His ways aren’t in any way like man’s earthly “wisdom”, which is foolishness, just as their ways are; God’s children should trust, rest and live in our heavenly Fathers wisdom.  It’s so easy to take a little of the worlds “wisdom” and to live and adopt a measure of their ways, but doing that will only keep us from living fully in the joy, power and peace of God’s promises. In Ezekiel 11:12 we’re told of how God saw that the Israelites were rejecting God’s instruction (ordinances), and they were choosing rather to live by the ways of the nations around them, and this was even after all He had done for them including after His warnings of His anger and judgement if they didn’t follow His instruction:

“For you have neither followed My statutes nor practiced My ordinances, but you have conformed to the ordinances of the nations around you.”.

A child of God should be a light to the world, not one conformed to the ways of those around me who have no fear or time for God. But this consideration poses some questions to me;

  • What characteristics of the world are in my life?
  • What am I practicing or accepting that God terms as an ordinance of the nations.
  • Have I influenced, or am I influencing anyone to accept ordinances/ways of the world?
  • Are any of my “religious” practices actually worldly ways in a Christian institution?
  • (Having written this just before Christmas,) Is my perspective of Christmas affected by secular perspective?

I thank God that His Word divides between soul and spirit! What an amazing blessing through Christ, to have God speak to His children daily, to guide us away from making the same mistakes they made, what immeasurable grace that God extends His patience and love to assist us in doing what is pleasing to Him for our good and His glory. There’s no lack of God’s provision of wisdom to His children, and as shown in Jeremiah, He works in us to that end;

You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God.

Jeremiah 31:18

Oh to be changed to be more like Christ, and to be nothing like the world which is passing away with all its foolish “wisdom” and ways.

The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will.

1 John 2:17, Romans 12: 2

Contrary to the worlds “wisdom”, Christian’s actions and words should be based on seeking to please God, and trusting Him. I was once told by a customer; “You’ve got to get more of the mongrel in you”, and by another one “Your business won’t survive if you don’t put more hours in.” (Staying open over the whole weekend), when my first child was born in 1990, a 80+ year old neighbour told me she had fears for children being brought into this world, I’ve also had many people tell me of their fear of the worlds governmental & health systems, of fears of the future for the natural world and society, as well as many other directions on how to run a business and bring up children; There are many occasions when I’ve been given good advice, but also many occasions when the advice was based on selfishness, covetousness, hate, greed or fear. But the Word of God has substantial wisdom throughout to guide the children of God in The Way that leads to life.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 

1 Corinthians 1:18-21

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