June 7, 2022

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE REFERENCE:

“However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature [maturing], yet not the wisdom of this age in which we live nor of the rulers of this age which they seek to enable because all of these come to nothing.” (1 Corinthians 2.6)

“Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” (1 Corinthians 2.12)

TODAY’S REFLECTION:

So, we are called to be as One in the “Age of Kingdom Wisdom.” What a tremendous challenge this is that has been given to us. Yet, we do not need to fear the challenge nor dwell in anxiousness about accepting the challenge nor worry about meeting the challenge. The confidence (which overcomes fear), the calm (which quietens anxiety) and the trust (which empowers ability) are manifestations of the gift of the Holy Spirit. The gift is made visible by the fruit which is born in us and borne by us in the world. The identity of a fruit-bearing person is without question. The identity of such a person is “Jesus in me, Jesus through me and Jesus with me.” There should be no doubt of who we are and what we are doing if we make Kingdom Wisdom the benchmark of our lives. Are we seeking to be wise? Are we seeking wisdom? Are we being wise as those who are in the world but not of it?

I know I am seeking to be that person. I know, too, that I fall short. A wise person, however, is unafraid to admit the falling down and the desire to stand again. After we fall down, wisdom begs the question in our heart, mind, body and soul asking “What will we stand for?”

THE TRUTH? Will we stand for the truth which was made known to us in light of the gospel of Jesus of Nazareth who is the Christ, the Son of God, through whom we have life and have it in abundance? I remember hearing a Christian teacher promote “Jesus is the answer to every question.” I really had to silently mull that one over. For me, that statement was far too simplistic. It is one that could be easily cast off and dismissed with a simple observation: 2 plus 2 does not equal Jesus. Faith is not algebraic but it most certainly “adds up.” I understood what the teacher was intending to say and the assumption by which he was deriving the statement from. But, the truth of the matter can never be based on an assumption. Jesus is not the answer to every question, however; not unless we are willing to devote our time seeking the wisdom of the premise with study and practice. Jesus is, however, in every answer to the questions we propose. In every question and in every answer there is the presence of wisdom which declares the truth which we each seek. We must stand for that truth!

THE FAITH? Faith, Paul writes, comes by hearing and hearing by listening to the word of God preached. It takes a lot of faith to present the word of God to the world. As Christ followers, we make it far too easy on each other to be “faithful.” We do not question each other about what we believe, why and how. We do not hold each other accountable for the same. We, to a dangerous extent, simply abide by “believe what you want to believe if it works for you.” This is the voice of the broken world that is speaking not the voice of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven. Heaven knows faith. Heaven has seen the evidence of faithlessness in its very midst. Faith says that there is but One God and there can only be One God. Faith says that God is not a product of human imagination. Faith says that this One God loves His creation so much that He was willing to put it all on the line for the sake of its redemption. Faith says “trust the process” and believe it works because the evidence to the contrary certainly does not. We must stand for faith and faithfulness.

THE CALL? We are called into being. Before we were formed in our mother’s womb, we were already called into being. Before the foundations of the earth were established and light was set in place to show the difference between light and dark, we were already called into being. When we were formed as of “dust of the earth” God breathed His life into us and called us into being His people. There are times when we must extend the call to each other to remind ourselves that we are His people, the sheep of His pasture and joined together in the family of God for His glory as well as for our benefit. We are also called by the indwelling of that same Spirit to bear fruit, cultivate fruitfulness and promote the investing of ourselves into broadcasting the seed which produces a fruitful harvest. We must stand for the call.

Without the wisdom of the “ages,” we will not be able to stand and withstand. But, we have this wisdom among us, around us and within us. It is the Spirit of Jesus in whose image we have been made. It is the promised Comforter and Guide which dwells in our midst bearing witness to the goodness and greatness of the One God who truly loves us. To ignore the presence of such wisdom and to cast aside receiving this wisdom for ourselves is committing ourselves to a life of futility which leads to eternal death. This is the product of foolishness and it is in abundance today; it can and will pass away tomorrow if we are wise.

OUR CALL TO PRAYER: Father God, maker of Heaven and earth, we bow before You and give thanks. You are seeking to make us wise in the ways of Your Kingdom so that we may accomplish the good which You have made us for on earth. Our hope is that this will truly be as close to “our Father’s world” as possible. We will not be able to accomplish this without the blessing of Your Holy Spirit. Form and shape in us the awareness of “this age” we are meant to live in. Help us to be better in producing it and promoting it over “this age” we now live in. To You will be all glory and honor given in Jesus’ name. AMEN.