Tag: awe

Wisdom Comes from God

Wisdom Comes from God

If anyone needs wisdom, ask the Lord to give it to you, for all wisdom comes from our Heavenly Father. 

Wisdom, especially spiritual wisdom, is not just about knowing what’s good for you, but it’s about applying that knowledge to your everyday life circumstances.

The Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  (Pro 2:6 CEB)

17 I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God. 18 My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and you will understand the hope given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all God’s people.  (Eph 1:17-18 CEV, emphasis added)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  (Jas 1:5 ESV)

We increase wisdom by walking with God.  As we revere and respect God, live in awe of His presence and power, make our choices based upon His Word, and love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, His wisdom grows and matures within us.  Reading the Bible regularly and memorizing Scripture passages plants wisdom in our hearts and nurtures it.

And of course, if we need God’s guidance or direction in a specific circumstance, all we need to do is pray and ask Him for His wisdom, and He will hear and answer us.

With Fear and Trembling

With Fear and Trembling

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.  (Phil 2:12-13 – emphasis added)

The word fear in the above passage of Scripture means with reverence and respect.  The reference to trembling can be understood to mean with great humility and the type of weakness that causes us to rely completely and solely upon the Lord and His grace.  We should also have a huge desire to never offend God through disobedience, as well as a great awe for God’s majesty and holiness.

Now what could the author have meant by “work out your own salvation”?  This is the concept of bringing something to completion or maturity, such as when Paul describes himself as straining or “pressing on” toward the goal of being Christlike.  (Phil 3:13-14)  It’s our responsibility to cooperate with the Lord by obeying His Word and following His plan for our lives.  Part of that plan is for us to submit to our Savior by obeying His Word.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  (Rom 12:1-2)

Obedience and submission to the God whom we revere and respect is only our “reasonable service” according to the passage shown above. 

We work out our salvation, then, by going to the source of our salvation—the Word of God—which is the only instrument available to us to renew our hearts and minds as we reverently seek to walk the path of ever-growing spiritual maturity.