Dear Cornerstone brothers and sisters,
The apostle John tells us that “the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Did you notice that important word … ‘all.’ The blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. Not some sins, not jus the big sins, or the little sins. But from all sin. Dear friends, that is the good news of the gospel! We do not deserve such mercy and grace, but God – who is love itself – sent his son to wash us whiter than snow. Wherever the Lord has you this week … this is good news! This is cause for rejoicing! This is cause to sing! The Lord has put a new song in our mouth (Ps 40:3).
* Be on the lookout for men’s and women’s studies gearing back up in September.
* Be sure to register for our Fall Theology conference here: www.csopc.org/conference.
* This week’s devotional (attached) is a reflection on the topic of wisdom from the book of Proverbs.
From the Pastor’s Desk
Mid-week Devotional
“Wisdom”
Proverbs 2:6, “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
If you spend five minutes watching the political antics of those in Washington DC, you may (actually, you most likely will) come to the conclusion that wisdom seems to be in short supply these days. That wherever we look, sound wisdom seems to be in short supply. For the Christian, however, such should not be the case. The Bible has much to say on the topic of wisdom. For example, “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Jesus Christ” (Col 2:3); the book of James gives us a wonderful description of true wisdom (James 3:13-18); and the book of Proverbs is in its entirety taken up with theme of wisdom (1:1-7). The Scriptures give us a wealth of insight into the much neglected characteristic of wisdom (when was the last time you heard someone described as ‘wise’). As believers, we should be diligently striving for greater wisdom: “Get wisdom; get insight” (Prov 4:5).
There are two questions for us to consider: “why should we seek wisdom” and “where should we week wisdom.” And the book of Proverbs gives us the answer. There are several places to which we could turn, but for the moment we will confine our thoughts to chapter 2. Proverbs 2 begins with an “if” statement: “My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures” (vv. 1-3). What follows the “if” statement is the conclusion, or the “then” statement. If you do x, then y will follow. Thus, if we seek wisdom in the God ordained manner, “…then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God … then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path” (vv. 5, 9). In other words, if you seek wisdom, you will find wisdom (cf. James 4:2b). Or to put it another way, if you seek wisdom, the Lord will grow you in the Christian life; he will grant you insight into his word and his ways (“righteousness and justice and equity”); he will strengthen you in the Christian walk (“every good path”).
And secondly, where do we find wisdom? Verse 6 tells us: “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” God gives wisdom. We go the Lord to get wisdom. And as we turn to the New Testament, we find further clarity. Paul tells us that “in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3). Also, Christ is the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:30). Thus, where do we seek wisdom? In Christ! Go to Christ! Spend much time with him! Commune with him daily in prayer and the word!
To summarize, God has commanded us to seek wisdom, and to treasure it above gold and silver. And as we seek Biblical wisdom in Christ, the Lord will grant it. And as he grants it, he will grow us and mature us as his servants. What a tremendous blessing! Oh how this lost world needs wise, mature Christians. Therefore, may we get wisdom (Prov 4:5)! Seek and you will find! May we all diligently seek to be wise Christians!!
Have a good week and I look forward to worshipping with you this Lord’s Day,
Rev. Robert Arendale, Pastor of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church (OPC), www.csopc.org