Divine Wisdom for Daily Living by Joanne Colvin

Dear Readers,

Over the last nine years, I have thoroughly enjoyed studying and writing about themes in Scripture and sometimes books of the Bible in light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The devotions that I’ve posted have been the result of many hours of reading commentaries and other devotionals, meditating on God’s Word, and praying in Christ for wisdom and clarity from the Lord. God has been my mentor, guide, teacher, and illuminator. He has been faithful, tender, tough, challenging, loving, gracious, and merciful. He had slowed me down when I was hurrying, moved me along when I was in danger of getting stuck, relieved me when I became nervous or anxious, and compelled me to passion when I was in danger of becoming nonchalant. 

However, if I am to practice the self-care that will lead to my being more alert, discrete, and discerning—not to mention rest— I will no longer have time to spend the time required to study, research, read, and write these devotions daily. After much prayer and consultation with godly folks, I have decided to bring my blogging to an end right now. However, I am praying that you will consider creating your own devotional based on Scripture that has inspired you lately or over the years from this point forward. There are also many great gospel-centered, doctrinally biblical devotions to choose from, written by theologians and scholars. I will continue to consult some for myself, and I encourage you to do the same. The main devotion I use for Proverbs is Tim and Kathy Keller’s God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life (Viking, New York, 2017). The devotions for previous years are on this website. 

Please pray for me to continue serving Christ with his wisdom, power, and love through the Holy Spirit’s guidance for the glory and testimony of Jesus Christ.  May you be blessed,  holy, devoted, and enthralled with our Lord and Savior, our singular Messiah, Jesus Christ. “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21)

In Him, Joanne

Are you ready for another “GGism”? Maybe I’ll write a book titled, “Everything God Taught Me Through My Dog.” Did you notice that I phrased that in the past tense, as if I already know everything God wants me to know? Well, lately I realized this week that when he is overwhelmed (when more than two people are walking toward him), if I have him sit, he can be calm when he would otherwise be very anxious and barking. If he has a chair or something to jump up on, he’s even happy to greet those approaching. So now, instead of being embarrassed that my dog is barking at people, I am pleased when they walk by or stop to pet him. This little change transforms my relationships with visitors and new residents. The solution is based on my knowledge of GG’s temperament, understanding the things that push his anxiety button, and having wisdom to apply that knowledge and understanding. In wisdom Scripture, we are encouraged to seek biblical wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from God, who gladly gives it to those who walk with Him. As those in Christ, the Holy Spirit influences us to be increasingly attentive to these spiritual treasures, and apply them with integrity and discretion. For example, do you know people who are grieving the loss of someone special? Is your understanding of their struggle heightened because you have learned how to move on after the loss of a loved one?* Doesn’t God give you the wisdom to approach your friend based on that knowledge and understanding?

Storing up God’s Treasure of Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom

“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, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you.” (Proverbs 2:1-11) “The first result of heeding wisdom is that one will understand the fear of the Lord. This knowledge is possible only because the Lord gives it to the upright. Thus, while wisdom is to be sought diligently and cultivated in practice, it is not something merited by the actions of an individual. Verse 8 states that the purpose of the gift of wisdom is to protect the paths of the saints [he is a shield…guarding…watching]. The second result of heeding wisdom is that one gains an understanding of righteousness and justice and equity because wisdom takes root in the heart and acts to protect the person who embraces it…the means by which the Lord will be ‘watching over the way of his saints’ is through the wisdom and understanding he will give them.” (1)

The Source of Knowledge and Wisdom

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (1:7; 9:9-10) “‘The fear of the Lord’ [is] the main theme of Proverbs…[and] is the only basis of true knowledge. This fear is…the reverent awe and worshipful response of faith to the God who reveals Himself as the Creator, the Savior, and the Judge…The Hebrew [for the ‘beginning of knowledge’] means either that [the fear of the Lord is] the starting point of knowledge or its best part. The former is in view here, not as in a starting point that one leaves behind, but as in mathematics, where one uses the numbers learned at the beginning in all of the later courses. While in His common grace God enables unbelievers to know much about the world, only the fear of the Lord enables one to know what anything means ultimately…Wisdom recognizes an important principle of human nature: there is no standing still; one progresses in the direction of one’s choice. Wisdom accumulates more wisdom. [‘For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away’] (Matthew 13:12).” (2) As holders of wisdom through Christ, we are called to be increasingly attentive to God’s wisdom for discernment and discretion, always moving forward.

Building Our Spiritual Dwelling

The idea of the building is prevalent in Scripture. Consider the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11), the Tabernacle in the wilderness (Gen. 20), the building of OT altars for remembrance and sacrifices (Gen. 23; Deut. 25, 27; Joshua 22; Judges 6), Solomon’s temple (2 Sam. 24; 1 Kings 5:5), and the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple after the exile (Nehemiah 2). In the Psalms, Scripture points to the temple building as God’s spiritual dwelling place and location for meeting with Him (Ps. 23, 89). In Psalm 127, Solomon wrote, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain (v. 1).” In Proverbs 24 we read, “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might, for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.” (Proverbs 24:3-6) “The images of wisdom’s benefits (a house…built, established, and filled) include material provision in addition to a blessed family life. However, the means by which they are received are presented in Proverbs as stemming from the fear of the Lord…The source of true strength is found in wisdom; by implication, strength and might apart from wisdom will be ineffective…Wisdom carefully acquired and applied is the means of success in all of life.” (3)

A Wise Caution

“No one book of the Bible gives us the whole picture of God’s salvation and truth. Proverbs makes the case that because God is the creator, wise actions normally lead to good results in life. The key word, however, is ‘normally.’ There is much abnormal about our world, so that prosperous people often are not hardworking while many poor people are. The relationship between behavior and reward is—not completely but to a significant degree—disrupted. It’s possible to over-read Proverbs to teach that ‘good things…happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people.’ While Proverbs acknowledges the disruption of order, the books of Ecclesiastes and Job (also part of the Bible’s Wisdom literature) explore it.” (4) “Then I said in my heart, ‘What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?’ And I said in my heart that this also is vanity…How the wise dies just like the fool!” (Ecclesiastes 2:15-16) “Proverbs says that, in general, the godly are remembered and the wicked forgotten. But here Ecclesiastes 2:15–16 observes that often a good, wise person is no more honored than a fool. Ecclesiastes and Job, then, must be read together with Proverbs if we are to learn wisdom. Does it surprise you that in our broken world good behavior does not always lead to favorable outcomes? Do you find yourself blaming God for this? Or are you learning to be wise in a broken world?” (5) “Have you found that God is destroying your little human wisdom and knowledge? The Lord be praised! God wants to wound the pride of your intellect. God does not use the wisdom of this world to express His thoughts; nor should we think our own thoughts and then ask God to bless them. God wants to think His thoughts through us, and then make us a blessing to others.” (6)

“Jesus’ disciples and NT believers are doubly blessed. God’s grace has made their hearts, ears, and eyes receptive to the revelation of His kingdom; and they live in the era of the fulfillment of God’s promises, for which OT believers earnestly hoped.” (7) No one is in a better position to practice and share wisdom than we who are in Christ. “Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (Matthew 13:16-17) May Christ be seen and enjoyed through God’s wisdom in us, through our relationship with each other, our relationships with God, and even through our treatment and relationships with God’s creatures.

Related Scripture: Job 28:28; 32:8-9; Psalm 25:14; Matthew 7:24-27; 16:15-19; Luke 10:23.

Notes:

* If you are looking for help to journey through your grief with others, I highly recommend GriefShare (www.griefshare.org). I am on the leadership team for our group and am greatly encouraged by the program and our members who support each other.

1. English Standard Version Study Bible Notes, Proverbs 2:1-11, (digital edition), Crossway, 2008.

2. The Reformation Study Bible, Proverbs 9:9-10, Reformation Trust Publishing (Ligonier Ministries), Sanford, Fl., 2015.

3. ESV Study Bible, Ibid, Proverbs 24:3-6.

4. Keller, Timothy and Keller, Kathy, God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life, March 3 Viking, New York, 2017.

5. Keller, Ibid, March 3.

6. Chambers, Oswald, My Utmost for His Highest, March 13, https://utmost.org.

7. Reformation Study Bible Notes, Matthew 13:16-17, Ibid.

March 20, 2025

Today, I’m inviting you to a feast of Scripture describing how biblical wisdom involves knowledge and understanding. Today, I offer food for thought. “We use the phrase food for thought to describe something worth pondering or considering seriously. It’s like a gourmet dish for your brain, a mental snack that nourishes your thoughts and ideas…Feast your eyes on this smorgasbord of synonyms…Brain candy…Cerebral feast…Thought fodder…Intellectual nourishment…Cogitation cuisine…Contemplation chow…” (1) I hope you’ve been enjoying the Bible’s delicious description of godly wisdom that goes way beyond what you might find in a dictionary. However, the Oxford English Dictionary is one of my favorite resources because it includes many historical biblical uses of words. About wisdom, it says, “[the] capacity of judging rightly in matters relating to life and conduct; soundness of judgement in the choice of means and ends; sometimes, less strictly, sound sense, esp. in practical affairs…[and] As one of the manifestations of the divine nature in Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians i. 24, 30, etc.); hence used as a title of the second Person of the Trinity;…also occasionally applied to God or the Trinity.” (2). So, “Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today, even to you. Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge, to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?” (Proverbs 22:17-21) Enjoy the feast until we meet again here.

Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding in Proverbs

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (1:7)

“If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.” (1:23)

“Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” (1:5)

“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, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you.” (Proverbs 2:1-11)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (3:5-6)

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness,

and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.” (3:13-20)

“Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.” (4:13)

“My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.” (5:1-2)

“Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.” (8:33-35)

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” (9:9-10)

“On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense. The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.” (10:13-14)

“A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.” (12:23)

“Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.” (13:15-16)

“A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.” (14:6-8)

“The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.” (14:18)

“The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.” (15:14)

“Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.” (15:21)

“The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.” (15:33)

“How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.” (16:16)

“Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.” (17:27)

“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.” (18:2)

“Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good.” (19:8)

“Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.” (19:25)

“A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?” (20:24)

“When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge. The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the traitor.” (21:11-12a)

“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is full of strength,

and a man of knowledge enhances his might, for by wise guidance you can wage your war,

and in abundance of counselors there is victory.” (24:3-6)

“When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue.” (28:2)

“Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.” (28:5)

“A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.” (28:11)

Other Passages

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.” (Psalm 111:10a)

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” (Isaiah 11:1-5)

“The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.” (Isiah 33:5-6)

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Romans 11:33)

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:16-21)

“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:1-3)

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4)

Delicious heart food!

Notes:

Osmond, Candace, “Food for Thought – Idiom, Meaning & Origin,” Grammarist, https://grammarist.com/idiom/food-for-thought/

Oxford English Dictionary, https://www.oed.com/dictionary/wisdom_n?tab=meaning_and_use#14117686

March 6, 2025

The world has co-opted humility as a way to be successful in the world without bravado. “‘Conventional wisdom is that you’ve got to be Machiavellian and self-promote and bully to rise to the top, but humility is also a catalyst for leadership success,’ said David Hekman…[who] co-authored the study, published in January 2024 in the journal Human Resource Management. That’s good news for leaders who naturally shy away from self-promotion and praise the strengths of others—and aren’t afraid to admit their own shortcomings. This path to promotion hinges on status and involves cultivating a network of loyal followers in the workplace.” (1) This may be good news for people who want to climb the corporate ladder, but it’s worse for Christians who are called to be humble servants to God and others. Godless philosophies of the world typically adopt a biblical idea for their own use. Because the source of these philosophies is paganism, their uses are all opposed to God, no matter how truth-adjacent they may seem. Recently, someone in our Bible study was encouraged by players’ comments after the Super Bowl when one player said he encourages youth to engage in the self-talk that says, “I am somebody, I am important.” However, only in Christ are we somebody special to God; without that link, this is only truth-adjacent. Humility would say I am special and important because of what Christ has done for me, which is what he does for all believers. Humility gives God the glory for our reverence and devotion to him, which are key elements of biblical wisdom. No matter where we live or work, or what we do, Christians are challenged to be humble, practicing the wisdom that glorifies Christ, who blesses the meek.

The Humble Wisdom of John the Baptist

When some disciples of John the Baptist came to him to complain about would-be disciples going to Jesus instead of him, John replied, “He [Christ] must increase, but I must decrease…A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.” (John 3:27, 30) “Humility is required to pay attention. Humility involves admitting that we don’t know everything and requires realizing our sinfulness and submitting to a higher authority. We must gather strength from God for our journey and give credit to Him when anything good happens. We must be willing to wait rather than charge forward, to serve others, and use the gifts and strengths God has given us to use as He directs. Ask the Lord to help you pay attention and increase your vision for Him. As He becomes more to us, we become less. As we see the strength He provides, we can repent of our self-sufficiency and be available for His purposes for our lives. When we have a right thinking about ourselves in relationship to God, we can humbly surrender to His purposes for us.” (2) “The fear of God and humility go together, where the one is the other is; and as the one is the way to wisdom, the other is the way to glory; Christ’s humiliation was before his exaltation; men [and women] are first humbled and laid low in their own eyes, and then they are raised out of their low estate, and are set among princes; and shall inherit the throne of glory, being made kings and priests unto God…it is a frequent saying of Christ, ‘he that humbles himself shall be exalted’, Luke 14:11; such a one is raised to a high estate of grace, and at last to eternal glory.” (3) “The fear of the Lord will dispose us to search the Scriptures with reverence; and it will cause us to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit. While we humbly place all our dependence on the grace of God, we are exalted in the righteousness of Christ.” (4) “The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 15:33)

Humility Here and Now

When we get to heaven, and then in glory to our eternal home in the new heavens and new earth, we will be perfect without the need for humility. Christ’s character will be ours. However, now we need all the help we can get to grow in humility. Jesus knows how much we need his help. In his Sermon on the Mount, he taught, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5) “Many of the beatitudes are based on Old Testament texts; this one…comes from Psalm 37:11, which says, ‘The meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace’… In a series of powerful statements, it says that they ‘do not fret because of evil men’; they ‘trust in the Lord and do good’; they ‘delight’ in the Lord, are ‘still before’ him, and ‘refrain from anger.’ People like this are genuinely blessed by God. They possess the earth because they take what God spreads before them and enjoy it, while others fight for more and fail to enjoy even what they have.” (5) Humility gives God the glory for our reverence and devotion to him, which are key elements of biblical wisdom. “Considering how safe, and quiet, and easy the humble are, we see that with the lowly is wisdom.” (6) “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)

Humility Leads to Wisdom, which Leads to Honor

“One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” (Proverbs 29:23) “The sin of pride does not allow the fool to benefit from another’s wisdom.”(7)“Honour shall uphold the humble in spirit; not who are humble in appearance only, or merely in words, having a show of humility, a voluntary and affected one; but really in their hearts; whose spirits are humble and contrite; who are so in spiritual things, and are made so by the Spirit of God: they are such who are truly sensible of sin; of their folly, and want of spiritual knowledge; of their impotence, and weakness to do anything that is spiritually good…and that whatever they have is owing to the grace of God…who submit to the righteousness of Christ, and give all the glory of salvation to the grace of God. These, as they are honourable, being clothed with humility, which is itself an ornament of great price; so they are honoured with more grace from the Lord…beautified with the garments of salvation; have the honour to have the spiritual and gracious presence of God, and fellowship with him.” (8) As a reminder—wherever we live, wherever we work, and whatever we do, we are challenged to be humble, practicing the wisdom that glorifies Christ, who blesses the meek.

Child-like Humility

“The disciples had been asking about greatness in the kingdom they believed Jesus would establish. They assumed that greatness was all they had to worry about. They assumed they would be in the kingdom. But instead,…Jesus explains that unless they possessed a nature that was entirely different from what they were betraying by their question, they would not even enter the kingdom…People are not humble by nature. We are self-seeking, selfish, and driven by pride. What do we need if we are to become humble, trusting what God has done for our salvation and not what we can accomplish for ourselves? The answer is clear: We need to ‘turn’ or ‘be converted,’ which is God’s work. We need to pray the prayer of Jeremiah 31:18: ‘Turn me, and I shall be turned, for you are the Lord my God.’ We ‘must be born again’ (John 3:7)…The evangelical bishop John Ryle said, ‘The surest mark of [any] true conversion is humility.’ It is when we humble ourselves and trust Jesus alone to save us that we can be sure we are converted.” (9) For those of us who have been followers of Jesus Christ for a while, Tim Keller writes, “Sacrifices and good deeds that are not backed up with a righteous life are detestable to God. But Proverbs 28:9 goes deeper, telling us that even seemingly heartfelt prayers are detestable to God unless accompanied by a humble, teachable spirit. [‘If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are an abomination.’] This is true, heartfelt, soul humility that pleases our Lord.” (10) “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful…Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 3:12-15; 4:5-6)

Related Scripture: Psalm 37:11; Proverbs 16:18; Ecclesiastes 2:9, 13, 26; 7:11-12, 19; 8:1; Isaiah 57:15; Micah 6:8; Mark 4:11-12; Ephesians 5:15-17;

Notes:

1. Katy Marquardt Hill, CU Boulder Today, To Succeed in the Workplace, Be Humble, https://www.colorado.edu/today/2024/04/03/succeed-workplace-be-humble

2. “Humility: Available for God’s Purposes,” Katie Flores, PCA CDM Ministry, Made For More, https:// women.pcacdm.org/made-for-more

3. Gill, John, John Gill’s Exposition on the Whole Bible, Proverbs 15:33, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/proverbs-15.html.

4. Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible, Proverbs 15:33, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/mhn/proverbs-15.html

5. Boice, James, Boice Expositional Commentary Series, Matthew 5:5, Baker Books, Software version, 1998.

6. Henry, Proverbs 11:2, Ibid.

7. Reformation Study Bible Notes, 29:23

8. Gill, John, John Gill’s Exposition on the Whole Bible, Proverbs 29:2, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/proverbs-29.html.

9. Boice, Matthew 18:4, Ibid.

10. Keller, Proverbs 28:9, Ibid.

February 20, 2025

Well, here we are— settling into 2025 and adjusting to whatever changes or new possessions we have. Recently, I purchased two new dining room chairs. They are better than my old ones, but they have caused me to change my routine. Their height at the table is perfect, but that same height makes it more challenging (i.e., more painful) to bend down to put GG’s harness on him. (Sitting down is easier on my bad back.) So I’ve moved all his things to the bookcase at the other end of the room and use one of my lower living room chairs to get him ready to go out. Nuances of this have popped up, not the least being GG’s confusion about what to do after I have readied him since his muscle memory remained in his old routine. I’m grateful for the wisdom of using a lower chair while putting on my shoes and tying the laces. Having God’s wisdom leads to better routines, more straightforward methods of accomplishing big or little tasks, and how to live more effectively and successfully. When I take care of remembering my back pain, I am friendlier with my neighbors, more energetic when walking GG, and generally a more pleasant, compassionate, peaceful person. This simple wisdom works like my deep understanding of living a biblical lifestyle. “God created the world with an order to work in a certain way, and we must live according to that to be truly wise; but in our brokenness we don’t see it…Proverbs is all about becoming wise in everyday life through a relationship with Jesus—through the gospel. It’s about the life of the kingdom that God always meant for humankind to live. When our vertical relationship with God is right through Jesus, we can be right with others and the world around us.” (1) “Proverbs’ goal is to describe and instill wisdom in God’s people, that is founded in the ‘fear of the Lord’ in the covenant life’s practical details of everyday situations and relationships.” (2) As we explore Proverbs’ wisdom together, I pray we will draw closer to Christ, see ourselves more realistically, and demonstrate the fruit of God’s wisdom in our circumstances and relationships. 

God Wove Wisdom in the Created Order

“The origin, existence, and purpose of true wisdom are properly framed in relationship with the covenant Lord, who is also the Maker of heaven and earth. As a result, the realm of wisdom encompasses every aspect of life in every corner of creation.” (3) “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil: pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries. The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. When he established the heavens, I was there…then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man…Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord. (Proverbs 8:12-31, 33-35) “Proverbs 8 reveals a facet of God’s work in creation that we don’t see as clearly in the Genesis 1–3 account, and that is the fact that God wove wisdom into the created order so that it would function as a coherent system. Therefore, those who submit to God and his ways—the wise—are able to participate in the rationality at the heart of created things, which is why Lady Wisdom says that her words ‘are all straight to him who understands, [and right to those who find knowledge’ (8:9).” (4) 

Christ’s is the Wisdom of God

Paul expertly described how the world views the wisdom of the gospel in his letter to the Corinthians. “God’s wisdom and power are not abstract forces but personal qualities that manifest themselves fully in the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Salvation, by its very nature, does not depend on human values or achievement…most of the believers in Corinth lacked the wisdom prized by Greeks, the power admired by Romans (and Jews), and the pedigree admired by Greeks, Romans, and Jews. They had also been lacking in ethical purity until God’s grace washed and sanctified them in Christ (6:9-11).” (5) “It pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men…But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world…so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God.” (1 Corinthians 1:21-25, 27-30)

Not the World’s Wisdom

“Wisdom reminds us that the search for an ethic based solely on experience is futile. Education and experience must build on the basis of the faithfulness and hope provided by God’s covenant promises. Ethical systems without the absolute standard of right, goodness, and truth revealed in the Scriptures cannot survive. (6) The First Corinthians “passage is filled with intense irony. Those who are wise according to the standards of the world think the gospel is foolish, since it identifies one who has suffered shameful crucifixion as the unique and only remedy to the plight of humanity. But even the most ‘foolish’ thing about God is wiser than human wisdom…The arrogance of human wisdom blinds unbelievers to the truth.” (7) Scripture provides God’s wisdom for living in Christ as citizens of the kingdom of God, with knowledge, discretion, discernment, love, righteousness, and justice. Living and believing on the side of the cross increases our understanding of Proverbs’ wisdom. For example, Proverbs 26 reads, “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes…Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (verses 4-5, 12). “How do you know when to do which?…If there is no chance of correction and you will end up giving the foolish person only a greater opportunity to express his folly, then just avoid the engagement. But if there is a chance he may see where he is wrong, then plunge in, using all the insights for speaking and listening we have been discussing. But there is an even larger point to be made. Most of us temperamentally will default to always avoiding engagement, and others will be attracted to debating. Sometimes our instincts will be right, but often they are not. So be wise enough to think things out and sometimes go against your instincts…When was the last time you went against your temperament and it turned out to be a wise thing to do? [So we pray]…Lord, I thank you that, because you have led me to accept the authority of your Word, I have had many occasions to act against my temperament.” (8) As we explore Proverbs’ wisdom, we can draw closer to Christ, see ourselves more realistically, and demonstrate the fruit of God’s wisdom in our circumstances and relationships. We can live out Romans 12:2 by depending upon God’s wisdom instead of our instincts and natural tendencies. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Related Scripture: Deuteronomy 7:6-8; 9:4-6; 1 Kings 4:29-34; Psalm 19:7; Proverbs 2:5-11; 3:13-18; 12:15; Isaiah 11:1-5: Matthew 11:25-26; Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 1:30;  Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 2:2b-3; James 1:5-6,27.

Notes:

1. Akin, Daniel L. and Jonathan, Exalting Jesus in Proverbs, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary, Section 1: Proverbs 1:1-7, Holman, 2017. 
2. English Standard Version Study Bible Notes, Introduction to Proverbs, (digital edition), Crossway, 2008
3. ESV, Proverb s 8, Ibid.
4. Brownback, Lydia, Proverbs: Knowing the Bible—A 12-Week Study, Week 4, Crossway, 2014.   
5. The Reformation Study Bible, 1 Corinthians 1:21-25, 27-31, Reformation Trust Publishing (Ligonier Ministries), Sanford, Fl., 2015.
6. Reformation Study Bible Notes, Proverbs 8:13-35 “Wisdom’s effectiveness,” Ibid.
7. Reformation Study Bible, 1 Corinthians 1:21-25, 27-31, Ibid
8. Keller, Timothy and Kathy, God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life, August 22, Viking, 2017

January 23, 2025

John Work became “the first African-American collector of Negro spirituals. This proved to be a daunting task for Work because they were passed down orally, from plantation to plantation; very few were ever written down. But Work proved up to the challenge, publishing his first book, New Jubilee Songs as Sung by the Fisk Jubilee Singers, in Songs of the American Negro, six years later. It was in this second volume that ‘Go, Tell It on the Mountain’ first appeared. The original singers of the song fulfilled the same important task the angels gave the shepherds that first Christmas night outside of Bethlehem, proclaiming, ‘That Jesus Christ is born!’ And thanks to John Wesley Work, so can we.” (1) “Go, Tell It On the Mountain, Over the hills and everywhere. Go, tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born…The shepherds feared and trembled, When lo! Above the earth, rang out the angels chorus that hailed the Savior’s birth…Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born. And God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn. Go, Tell It On the Mountain, Over the hills and everywhere. Go, tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born.” The angels and God’s hymn writers consistently exhort God’s people to proclaim Christ and the gospel for the benefit of believers and unbelievers—and sometimes, we do it in song. Will we embrace and be witnesses of the unmatchable light of God’s gospel in our music, relationships, and perspective, which pleases God more than anything else?

Living in Unity with Christ

The apostles also steadfastly exhorted God’s people to live lives worthy of Christ and the gospel through their faith given by God. “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ… standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27). “Philippi prided itself on being a Roman colony, offering the honor and privilege of Roman citizenship. Paul reminds the congregation that they should look to Christ, not Caesar, for their model of behavior, since their primary allegiance is to God and his kingdom. They need to stand together with one another and with Paul in striving for the gospel.” (2) “Unity is one important way in which believers’ lives are shown to be ‘worthy of the gospel of Christ’…Paul urges his readers not to break under the pressure of opposition, but instead to exert pressure of their own. This means proclaiming the gospel they have believed and living in a manner worthy of it.” (3) “A Gospel walk and conversation lies in such things as these; constant attendance on the preaching of the Gospel…cultivating love, unity, and peace…retaining and striving for the doctrines of the Gospel…believers ought to stand fast, and should abide by it, and never give up…the holy Spirit of God…is the beginner of the good work of grace on the soul, he is also who carries it on and will perfect it; and therefore to him should the people of God look for grace and strength, to enable them to stand fast in the profession of their faith, to hold fast without wavering, and to persevere to the end…true Christian love makes the saints to be of one heart and soul…brotherly love should continue, and all endeavours be used to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace…by which a good warfare with them may be warred, and the good fight of faith fought with much success; and the whole requires great care and solicitude, earnestness, zeal, constancy, and courage: striving together for these, intends either striving with the apostle, and as they had him both as a fellow soldier, and for an example.” (4) God calls us to live lives worthy of Christ for the benefit of believers and unbelievers, with God’s unmatchable light and the Spirit’s power.

Not Ashamed

Paul opens his letter to the Romans with his declaration of faith. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” (Romans 1:16-17; Habakkuk 2:4) “Paul explains why he is so eager to preach the gospel everywhere: the gospel is the saving power of God, in which the righteousness of God is revealed. Because of their lack of size, fame, or honor in the Roman corridors of power and influence, Christians might be tempted to be ashamed of the Christian message. But Paul says it is nothing to be ashamed of, for it is, in fact, a message coming with the power of God that brings people to salvation…the expression in Greek (dikaiosynē theou, ‘the righteousness of God’) likely…refers directly to God’s right moral character, particularly manifested in his holiness and justice, and in the way that his method of saving sinners through Christ’s death meets the just demand of his holy nature…From faith for faith probably means that right standing with God is by faith from start to finish. The life of faith is all-encompassing: it is by faith that one initially receives the gift of salvation (eternal life), but it is also by faith that one lives each day…The whole of the Christian life, from beginning to end, is lived in trust and dependence on the God who graciously justifies the sinner.” (5) The unmatchable gospel light of God is meant to be seen in our relationships, speech, choices, desires, and perspective, which pleases God more than anything else. “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Luke 7:23)

Pleasing God

“For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” (1 Thessalonians 2:1-4) “They spoke ‘the Gospel…salvation by Christ, and not by the works of the law; the pure Gospel, and not a mixed one, free from the mixture of all human doctrines and inventions of men, without any adulteration and inconsistency; the whole of the Gospel, and not a part of it only; they declared the whole counsel of God, and kept back nothing that might be profitable: and this is styled the Gospel of God, to distinguish it from the Gospel of men, or that which the false teachers taught, and which was called the Gospel, though it was not so…setting forth the grace of God in election, redemption, justification, pardon, adoption, regeneration, and glorification, and expressing things relating to the kingdom of God…the apostles were so bold to speak it, because it was not of men, but God…not that there were any previous fitness and worthiness in them to be ministers of the word; but such was the good will and pleasure of God, that he from all eternity chose and appointed them to this work…[the gospel] which to be trusted with is a very great honour; and the discharge of such a trust requires great faithfulness, and which the apostles had…the Gospel as delivered to them, both as to matter and manner; neither taking from it nor adding to it, nor mixing it with anything of their own, nor disguising it with any artifice: not as pleasing men; to gain favour and affection, esteem, applause, and honour from them; to escape reproach and persecution, and obtain worldly advantages by dropping, concealing, or blending of truths to make them more agreeable to the taste of natural men: but [for] God…and who being the searcher of the hearts, and the trier of the reins of the children of men, knows the intentions and designs of men, and the springs of all actions; and sees through all artifices, and from whom nothing can be hidden, and who will, in his own time, bring to light the hidden things of darkness; under a sense of which faithful ministers act, as of sincerity, and as in the sight of an omniscient God.” (6) We see here how the apostles consistently exhorted God’s people to live the gospel. Like them, we are to be witnesses of the incomparable, superior, preeminent light of God in the gospel in our relationships, speech, choices, desires, and perspective, which pleases God more than anything else.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:3-4) “Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room and heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n and nature sing!” Merry Christmas!

Related Scripture: Acts 15:7; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31) 2 Corinthians 5:21-6:2; 10:15-16; Ephesians 4:1-6; Philippians 3:9; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38.

Notes:

1. https://gaither.com/go-tell-it-on-the-mountain-the-story-behind-the-song/

2. English Standard Version Study Bible Notes, Philippians 1:27, (digital edition), Crossway, 2008.

3. The Reformation Study Bible, Philippians 1:27, Reformation Trust Publishing (Ligonier Ministries), Sanford, Fl., 2015.

4. Gill, John, John Gill’s Exposition on the Whole Bible, Philippians 1:27, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/phil-1.html.

5. Reformation Study Bible Notes, Romans 1:16-17, Ibid.

6. Gill, John, John Gill’s Exposition on the Whole Bible, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-4, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/1-thessalonians.html.

December 25, 2024

We’re just days away from Christmas and the end of 2024. We are winding down the year, and I am winding down this year’s devotional theme—the gospel of Jesus Christ. I’ll have to admit that it’s been a rather trying year, a year of new experiences, and many were difficult, but they have led to greater maturity in my faith. I hope the same can be said for you. I think about exercising my dog first thing in the morning; he is excited about the first half of our one-mile walk. But he winds down as we continue, which is very good—then he can walk without trying to run ahead of me at a more steady pace. As we walk with Christ, our walk also becomes steadier, staying in step more consistently with God. Today, I’ll review how the gospel saves and goes on to sustain us in our Christian life in this world. Jesus’s gospel compels believers to both bring the lost to him through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling power and to grow in our maturity with a stronger testimony of faith. As we approach the celebration of His birth, let’s share the gospel and our blessedness in Christ to assist those God is going to give to Jesus. And let’s be ready to disciple them as we are discipled by Christ.

Parables about the Lost

In Luke 15, Jesus uses parables to describe God’s viewpoint and work on behalf of the lost who had never heard or never believed the gospel. Here’s one. “What woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:8-10) “[The] story…about silver coins…is about people. How far do we have to look in order to find people who are lost? They are all around us. There are millions of people in this world who know nothing of Jesus Christ. And yet the Lord of the church has commanded us to go into all the world. Some have yet to go into all of their communities, because they have fallen for the lie that evangelism is no longer necessary. …[And] some adopt the viewpoint that no one has the right to seek to proselytize other people to their religious viewpoint. If that is true, then Jesus Christ was the chief violator of human rights because he made that kind of activity the central business of his life and he commanded his people to do the same. When God commands us to preach the gospel and we refuse to do it, or demean the vocation, we are being arrogant to the extreme. To deny the validity of evangelism, as some within the Christian church do, is treason. It is the mandate of Christ and it is the example of Christ to seek and to save the lost. For when even one is redeemed, the angels rejoice.” (1) Having the Holy Spirit’s indwelling power compels us to bring the lost to him through Him when Christ calls them to be his possessions. Then there is much joy in heaven, in them, and in us.

The Joy of Salvation for Prodigals

In the parable of the prodigal son, “The father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate…It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’” (Luke 15:22-24, 32) “Imagine the anxiety of that father as he went to work every day in the fields…There had been no messages, no news, of how his boy was faring…He was always on the lookout for him, which is why he saw him when he was still a long way off…as soon as he saw his son, he felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him…The boy had planned his confession speech, but before he even had a chance to open his mouth, his father had already fallen upon his neck and kissed him. He was forgiven before he uttered a word. The father didn’t need to hear the words; he could see the brokenness of his son, and his heart was moved to compassion, and he showed that compassion with a kiss…The young man confessed that not only had he disgraced himself, but he had brought shame on his father’s house, and didn’t deserve to be called his son any more. The father doesn’t answer the son immediately, but instead issues some commands to his servants…In the ancient Near East the ceremonial robe, the best robe, was a mark of honour…So the father’s command carried this implication: Treat this son of mine as the guest of honour in my house. Then there is the ring, obviously a signet ring. When it was given from father to son, or from king to prime minister, it signified the granting, or the transfer, of authority…the father, by calling for a ring to be placed on his finger, is restoring to him the authority of sonship in his father’s house. And then the third command to put sandals on his feet. Shoes or sandals were a luxury. They were worn by free men, never worn by slaves. The young son had appeared at his father’s house in bare feet, looking like a slave, but the father ordered that shoes be put on his feet. After these instructions…the father then gives the command: ‘Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate’…the fatted calf was a sign that this was an extremely special occasion, a time of feasting for the family and the servants, in honour of the return of the lost son to the family table…Every Christian has lived this wonderful story of the prodigal son in one way or another. The essence of conversion is the experience of forgiveness, the experience of the grace of God.” (2) Those who are saved, those who participate in their salvation, God, and all the hosts of heaven rejoice in the work of the gospel (Matthew 18:10-14)!

Joy in Our Good Shepherd’s Care

“So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:7-9) “First, Jesus says that anyone who enters in will be saved…Salvation is partially future…But it is also past and present. It affects who we are and what happens to us from beginning to end. A better way of talking about it is in terms of sin’s penalty, power, and presence. By entering in through Christ, we immediately escape sin’s penalty, so we need not fear that our sins will ever rise up against us. This is justification. Then, too, we also enter into a life in which we are increasingly delivered from sin’s power. The Bible calls this sanctification. Finally, we look forward to a day marked by the return of Christ or else our passing into his presence through death, in which even the presence of sin will be gone and our salvation will be perfected. The Bible calls this glorification. Second, Jesus promises that anyone who enters in will be safe. This is the point of his reference to going ‘in and out’…To be able to go in and out means security, for in Christ’s day when a man could go in or out without fear it meant that his country was at peace and that the ruler had the affairs of the nation under control…Third, he also promised that they would be satisfied—saved, safe, and satisfied—for he said that they would be able to go in and out and ‘find pasture.’ Palestine is a barren land for the most part, and good pasture was not easy to find. Consequently, to be assured of good pasture was a wonderful thing. It spoke of prosperity and contentment, of health and happiness…It was this that Paul wrote of when he told the Philippians, ‘And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus’ (4:19). This last verse does not speak of all our desires, of course. We often desire that which is wrong or is not good for us. It speaks only of our needs, but even in that form it is a great promise. It is the promise that the one who enters in by Christ will not lack any good thing.” (3)

Our Good Shepherd

“Many images in the Bible convey the protecting care of God for his people, but probably no image is more greatly loved than that of the shepherd and his sheep. What Christian can consider God as a shepherd without thinking of the Twenty-third Psalm: ‘The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want’? Or the tenth chapter of John, where Jesus applies the image to himself: ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep’ (v. 11)? Yet it is not only in these well-known passages that the image occurs. A psalmist wrote, ‘We are his people, the sheep of his pasture’ (Ps. 100:3). Isaiah said about God, ‘He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young’ (Isaiah 40:11).” (4) “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23) All fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Praise be to God, our Savior!

Related Scripture: Deuteronomy 28:6; 1 Kings 3:7-10; Psalm 19:7-8; 121:8; Proverbs 25:13; Isaiah 40:10-11; Jeremiah 23:1-10; Zechariah 3:3-10; Matthew 10:5-7; 18:10-14; John 10:7-9, 14-15, 28-30; Ephesians 2; Colossians 2:13; 1 Peter 2:25.

Notes:

1. Sproul, R. C., A Walk with God: An Exposition of Luke’s Gospel, Luke 15:8-10, Electronic Book, 2016.

2. Sproul, Luke 15:20-32, Ibid.

3. Boice, James, Boice Expositional Commentary Series, John 10:7-9, Baker Books, Software version, 1998.

4. Boice, Matthew 18:10-14, Ibid.

December 12, 2024

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1-4)

Turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie—is this what you’re thankful for today? Well, of course, most of us are in the US. But hopefully, that’s not all we’re grateful about. On Sunday, our community celebrated an early “Friends and Family Thanksgiving” banquet so that those of us who were going to be with others today would have a chance to share a lovely meal at home. Later that day, I asked one of my neighbors what he thought about the meal, and he said, “It was fine.” I was very surprised since it was the one day of the year when all our administrative and food service staff prepared lovely table settings and served us delicious, plated salad, two entrees, and dessert with coffee. When I told him that I was surprised that he didn’t seem thankful, he said, “Oh, I’m thankful every day!” I was relieved, having never considered that he would be, given his reputation for sharing all the unfinished or needed repairs with the maintenance staff. A friend of mine told me that he does this because, at 94, he is mentally bored. So, I was glad to hear that his default attitude isn’t his whole perception of life here. Most of us share about how blessed we are to live in such a lovely environment. But what is our “default” attitude? What do we think about or feel when we are bored? Really, how can a child of God who has received Christ’s free, all-encompassing, over-arching, curative gospel ever be anything but grateful? Jesus’s gospel is the foundation of his saving work, to bring the lost to himself, rejoicing in their new life and his possession of them. By God’s grace, we rejoice that Jesus Christ sought, bought, and saved us, sharing our thanks with all who will listen.

Grateful for a Different Life

God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel: “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness…And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel…they shall lie down in good grazing land…I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.” (Ezekiel 34:11-16). “God intervenes to reverse, step by step, the process described above. He successively undoes the damage inflicted by the failed shepherds by seeking the scattered, gathering and feeding them, and ensuring they live in security. In John 10:9, Jesus speaks of the sheep finding ‘pasture’ (evoking Ezek. 34:14).” (1) “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10) “The Lord declared that he intended mercy towards the scattered flock. Doubtless this, in the first place, had reference to the restoration of the Jews. It also represented the good Shepherd’s tender care of the souls of his people. He finds them in their days of darkness and ignorance, and brings them to his fold. He comes to their relief in times of persecution and temptation. He leads them in the ways of righteousness, and causes them to rest on his love and faithfulness. The proud and self-sufficient, are enemies of the true gospel and of believers; against such we must guard.” (2) Do we rejoice that Jesus Christ sought, bought, and saved us, sharing our thanksgiving with all who will listen?

Our Good Shepherd

“So he told them this parable: ‘What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.’” (Luke 15:3-7) The rabbis taught that God would welcome a penitent sinner, but the first two parables teach that through Jesus, God is seeking out sinners. Through Ezekiel, the Lord promised to come and fulfill the shepherding responsibilities that Israel’s shepherds (both the kings and priests in Ezekiel’s day and the scribes now criticizing Jesus) had neglected…Jesus uses the same parable to call leaders of His church to be proactive in protecting and retrieving members who go astray” (Matt. 18:10-14). (3) “God cares for us individually…Shepherds know their sheep. They know them individually, and, what is more, their sheep know them and respond to their voices. Jesus was building on this fact when he told the people of his day, ‘I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep’ (John 10:14–15). We know that God knows his people individually and cares for them individually because when he calls them to faith he calls them ‘by name’ (John 10:3). We see this clearly in the earthly ministry of Jesus. Think of Matthew himself. We are told that Jesus ‘saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him’ (Matt. 9:9). Here was a lost sheep who had been given to Jesus by the Father…Zacchaeus was another lost sheep…[Jesus]…said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly” (Luke 19:5–6). An even more powerful example occurred in Bethany…[when] Lazarus died before Jesus arrived. But Jesus stood before the tomb and cried loudly, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ (John 11:43). And he did! Lazarus was another of Jesus’ lost sheep, and he responded by returning from the dead…That is the kind of relationship God has with his people. It is an individual relationship. He knows you, even you. If he called you by name when you first believed on Jesus, you can be sure that he will exercise that same individual care in keeping you and seeking you if you wander away.” (4)

God’s Joy in Repentance

“God rejoices when we repent and return to him. The Bible says that God grieves over sin and rejoices when a sinner is reclaimed. Jesus makes this explicit in the parable, saying of the great shepherd, ‘He is happier about that one sheep [that is found] than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off’ (Matt. 18:13)…In the first two parables in Luke 15 the shepherd finds the lost sheep and the woman finds the lost coin. Jesus is emphasizing God’s joy over recovering whatever had been lost…in Matthew 18 Jesus says, ‘Your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost’ (v. 14)…In [John 10], after [Jesus] has spoken of how he will call his sheep and how they will hear his voice and follow him, Jesus says, ‘I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one’” (vv. 28–30). (5) Jesus’s gospel is the foundation of his saving work, to bring the lost to himself, rejoicing in their new life and his possession of us. By God’s grace, let us rejoice that Jesus Christ sought, bought, and saved us, sharing our thanksgiving with all who will listen.

“The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.” (Psalm 145:14-19)

Related Scripture: Psalm 23; Isaiah 40:10-11; Zechariah 3:3-10; Matthew 10:5-7; 18:10-14; John 10:7-9, 14-15, 28-30; Ephesians 2; Colossians 2:13; 1 Peter 2:25.

Notes:

1. English Standard Version Study Bible Notes, Ezekiel 34:11-16, (digital edition), Crossway, 2008.

2. Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible, Ezekiel 34:7-16, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/mhn/ezekiel-34.html

3. The Reformation Study Bible, Luke 15:3-7, Reformation Trust Publishing (Ligonier

4. Ministries), Sanford, Fl., 2015.

5. Boice, James, Boice Expositional Commentary Series, Matthew 18, Baker Books, Software version, 1998.

6. Boice Expositional Commentary, Ibid.

November 28, 2024