Hi Brad,
I really liked this one. I thought that the info-mercial was very clever.
Love and blessings,
purple Mari
At 06:58 AM 7/9/2007, you wrote:
>Reading this morning I originally was drawn to the reward of sweet
>sleep and no fear of the enemy suddenly coming upon us and wanted to
>draw attention to that but so much more is offered. What then are
>the rewards of wisdom? As you know parts of God's word are
>metaphorical and others are literal. For instance when God talks
>about wisdom calling out in the streets and that she's waiting at
>the gate of the city and so forth, well there isn't really a woman
>thousands of years old who goes by the name of Wisdom standing at
>the city limits of every city in the world. So it is a metaphor
>showing God's wisdom is everywhere, in every situation, and we need
>only look and listen for it, and of course follow it. There are
>times however when God says things like do not reprove a scorner or
>you will receive disgrace. We know that is a literal statement. He
>gives us the ability to discern metaphor from literal if we only
>ask, I know this because His Word says so and personal experience
>has proven it to me. So knowing that information what then are the
>benefits of wisdom? And by wisdom, it is not intended to mean our
>own wisdom, that is our own thoughts grounded in our own devices and
>interests, but that of God's wisdom instilled in us and we then use
>it. What then can we look with anticipation and graceful
>expectation to receive from finding, seeking and using God's wisdom?
>
>If you were to hear wisdom being advertised in an infomercial on TV
>today, it might sound something like this...
>
>"Today we're offering a special price on our Wisdom Whizbanger!
>We're really out doing ourselves this time folks, never before have
>we offered such a deal. If you order today here's what you will
>get!! Extended life! That's right folks we literally can extend your
>life by not only days but years! And what good would an extended
>life be if it was a life filled with fear and strife? So we're also
>tossing in a life of peace. That's right. Peace. Not only will you
>be able to live longer but you will live longer, with more peace as
>well. And that's not all. If you order today at this special offer
>you will also receive the ability to enjoy favor with God your
>creator as well as your fellow man! I know, I know many have asked
>us how we can afford to be so generous but we can't believe it
>either! We must be poor business people to be offering all of this.
>But. I want to tell you there's more! Yes more. If you call now
>while our operators are standing by we will toss in not one, not
>two, but three, yes three additional gifts for ordering today. Along
>with a long peaceable life of favor with god and man you will also
>receive wealth, riches and honor! We've really gone over the edge
>this time folks, we can't believe it ourselves! Now if you... wait a
>minute. I'm getting a call from our CEO... please excuse me for just
>one second. 'Yes Charlie what can I do for you? You kidding! Are you
>serious! They are not going to believe this, are you sure about
>this? Well, OK then. Thanks I'll tell them'. Sorry for the
>interruption folks but you won't believe this, that was our CEO on
>the phone and, someone hit me so I know I'm not dreaming because not
>only are we offering a long peaceable life complete with favor of
>God and man along with wealth, riches and honor... I can't believe
>he's doing this... my CEO just instructed me that for those who
>order right now you will receive a life of straight paths,
>correction by a loving Father and that's not all you also will receive..."
>
>OK, OK. Enough with the infomercial bit :) I think you get the hint.
>As cheesy as that staged infomercial was, it yet carries truth in
>what god will give us by seeking wisdom. One very important thing I
>didn't include in the bit was this...
>
>Keep sound wisdom and discretion, so they will be life to your soul
>and adornment to your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely
>and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be
>afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be
>afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it
>comes; For the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot
>from being caught.
>
>So if God's Word can be taken literal we know that seeking and
>obtaining wisdom and understanding, we know then that we can be
>secure, confident and sleep a sweet sleep without fear and
>interruption. The gift of wisdom is salvation, it is there for the
>taking, we only need to decide to grasp on to what has already been
>given us and reap the rewards of the offer. One difference between
>salvation and wisdom is there are times in life when we need to
>decide to apply wisdom. In salvation it is a gift in which we only
>choose to grasp on to and the Lord does the saving. With wisdom, we
>grasp on to the precepts in our given situations and yes God does
>the rewarding or sees to it that we do have favor with Himself and
>man that we do have riches, wealth, peace and all wisdom promises in
>His Word. But we do need to decide to use it, to grasp on, to apply
>it to our lives, to hold our situations up to the light of God
>through His gift of wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Imagine if
>you told your son to run to the grocery store and get a loaf of
>bread. He then asks well how do I get there. So you give him some
>written instructions. He runs and gets the bread then runs off doing
>whatever. Then you ask him to run to the same store and get some
>milk. He asks again how to get there. So you point out that you
>gave him written instructions. "Oh yeah, I forgot" he says. Goes
>off, comes back with the milk and goes about his business. Later you
>ask him to get some eggs from the store, and again he asks how to
>get there. Soon it would get a bit irritating would it not? We
>would wonder why isn't he using his knowledge of what I gave him
>instead of continually asking me over and over how to get there.
>Years ago I was being counseled by a wise man of God with some great
>insight and application of God's Word and I was just learning how
>to apply God's word to my life. He said seeking God in prayer for
>things in life, for direction is of course needed but praying about
>whether to put salad forks out with the meal is just irritating and
>not necessary. Obviously he was exaggerating to make the point that
>some things we have been given a brain, as well wisdom to use as a
>team towards our situations in life. I'll end with a precept which
>is kind of a joke at the same time. A pastor once gave this sermon
>and he did a wonderful job of it. Folks came to him after the
>service, shook his hand vigorously and said how wonderful it was and
>all that and he smiled calmly and said thank you. The following
>Sunday the pastor gave the same sermon. Folks cordially smiled,
>yawned and nodded as he gave the sermon and when he was done they
>again said how nice it was, shook hands with a slightly looser grip
>this time, and smiled with a bit of forced lips. The next Sunday
>the pastor gave the very same sermon. Well the elders began to
>wonder if there wasn't something wrong with the pastor. One more
>week went by and dang nabit if he didn't do it yet again. Well
>finally the elders took the pastor aside after the service and asked
>him, "Umm. Pastor? Umm. are you aware you've given the same exact
>sermon, uh, several weeks in a row now?"
>
>He replied. "Yes I know I have. And I'm going to keep giving it
>until you folks begin to actually do it".
>
>I read one of the articles on a link Phil gave us to look at from
>George Muller I think was his name. I really recommend the article
>which talks about reading the Word of God and not so much man's
>books. That is not to say teachings, encouragements and etc. are
>not helpful, but it is God's Word that can teach itself if you dig
>in and that ought be the stable of your instructional diet. Nothing
>replaces His Word.
>
>Brad
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