January 12

“Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.” (Proverbs 10:23)

Although God created everything to be good, God’s magnificent creation is corrupted by sin as a consequence of the fall. Everything on this earth is temporal, fleeting, and without eternal value. Satan is the ruler of this world, and he opposes God at every turn. (See 1 Chron. 21:1; Mark 4:15; 2 Thess. 2:8-12; Rev. 12:9.) True, biblical wisdom cannot be found in the world. The world will contrive to imitate wisdom by manipulation, scheming, intrigue, mystery, and strategy. Only by knowing biblical, godly wisdom can we identify false “wisdom” in others and ourselves.

God has always been counter-cultural theologically and practically. Personal knowledge of God and obedience to His instructions are the basis for practical wisdom. It is not enough to know God’s identity or His attributes. Knowledge of God that leads to wisdom is intimate, personal, friendly, confessional, and sanctifying. This unique, particular knowledge of God comes only through faith in Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit.

In what ways are you counter-cultural, refusing to conform for the approval of men? Can you list the habits, traditions, or choices you and your family makes to replace the temporary foolishness of your society with God’s eternal presence and blessings? In what areas do you yield to worldly values, because of the pressure to “fit in?”