Tag: training

Allow God’s Word to Lead You

Allow God’s Word to Lead You

If we obey the Bible, it will lead us and guide us in wisdom and truth.

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?  By living according to your word.  (Ps 119:9 NIV)

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  (Jos 1:7 NIV)

Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  (2 Tim 2:22 NKJV)

From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to give you the wisdom you need for salvation through faith in the Messiah Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good action.  (2 Tim 3:15-17 ISV)

The Scripture passages that I have shared above demonstrate the wisdom of obeying the Bible, and the benefits that we receive from doing just that.

Obedience to the Bible will give us:

  • A righteous life,
  • Success in life,
  • A pure heart,
  • Wisdom, and
  • Training in righteousness.

God bless you and guide you.

The Meekness of Wisdom

The Meekness of Wisdom

Wisdom is a gift from the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor 12:8)  How can wisdom be characterized as meek?

Let’s understand meekness as it was understood in Bible times.  True meekness is power under control such as when a horse is trained to accept a saddle and to obey the will of its rider or owner. 

The training of the horse does not make the animal less strong.  The submission of the horse does not make it less strong.  Neither the training nor the act of submission makes the horse less than he was when he was running untamed.  It actually makes him more valuable and useful!  That’s something to think about for several seconds.

Jesus was described as meek, and yet He had supernatural power available to Him.  All He had to do was to speak to access His miraculous power, but He didn’t do it.  He humbled Himself to the will of His Father to complete His assignment to become our Redeemer.  He was as meek as a Lamb.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.  (Rom 12:16 ESV)  Jesus did associate with the lowly and actually became lowly by becoming a man!

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?  There is more hope for a fool than for him.  (Pro 26:12 NKJV)  Spiritual wisdom is actually a connection with the heart of God.  There is no room for haughtiness or pride when we understand that any wisdom we have is given to us directly by the Lord.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.  (Jas 3:13-17, emphases added)  The meekness referred to here is two-fold:  our submission to God’s will combined with our knowledge that the wisdom that is given to us is God’s own wisdom.

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.  (1 Cor 3:18)  Jesus seemed foolish to many of the people in Biblical times.  Some felt that He should have defended Himself.  Others wanted to fight and to start a battle.  But Jesus, obeying the wise plan of His Father, didn’t do those things.  He was in complete control of Himself out of love for His Father.

Notice that James 3:17 names the “wisdom that is from above,” meaning that it is from God, and the verse talks about what personifies this spiritual and supernatural kind of wisdom.  Jesus did personify heavenly wisdom by being pure, peaceable, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality or hypocrisy.  Jesus was meek as well as wise.

The Scriptures tell us that Jesus actually became for us “wisdom from God”!  Jesus embodies wisdom.  Jesus’ life in each one of us contains the wisdom of God.

 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—  (1 Cor 1:30)

Jesus is the perfect example of the Meekness of Wisdom.  Glory to God!

In the Race

In the Race

Did you realize that we are born into a race?  We all run in the “race of life” which not only involves this life but eternal life, as well.

And, as you would expect, every race has its own rules and guidelines as well as its rewards.  The same is true in the “race of life.”

The Bible reveals everything to us about life and godliness. (2 Pet 1:3)  It tells about the guidelines for our lives, and discloses the nature and power of our weapons.  (2 Cor 10:4)  Here are some of truths that we all need to understand about the race in which we are engaged.

Training –

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  (1 Cor 9:25 NIV)

A prize –

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.  (1 Cor 9:24 NKJV)

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.  (2 Tim 4:8)

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.  (Jas 1:2)

. . . and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.  (1 Pet 5:4)

Rules –

And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.  (2 Tim 2:5)

Perseverance Needed –

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.  (Rev 2:10)

Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. (Rev 3:11)

Application –

Think about the nature of your own race, and how you can run it with more wisdom and power.  Blessings upon you!

Spiritually Minded

Spiritually Minded

. . . to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  (Rom 8:6b)

What does “spiritually minded” mean?  Definition:  having the mind set on spiritual things: filled with holy desires and purposes: spiritual.

Being spiritually minded may refer to the structure and outlook of our minds. This is when the Spirit is shaping our mind-(attitude)-set according to His own. It exalts Christ and values God.  It cherishes the Word of God and sees people and things with a relentless God-consciousness.

Reading the Bible every day will assist us in training our mind and thoughts.  A constant feeding upon the Word of God will actually renew our minds so that they’ll be in agreement with the Holy Spirit. 

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 12:2)

. . . and be renewed in the spirit of your mind . . .  (Eph 4:23)

Invite the Word of God to transform you so that you may be spiritually minded and enjoy a peaceful, blessed life.