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Wisdom

Wisdom Available for All

by TerryLema November 10, 2023

When I listen to politicians, when I read some things people post, when I watch some of the commercials for reality television, I am reminded that not everyone is wise. In fact, I could say, many are downright foolish!

I do not say that from a position of superiority or arrogance. I, too, have had my share of foolish thoughts and deeds.  I must also admit that I still have times when I say or do something foolish.

Perhaps the greatest foolishness in my life stems from forgetting that I have access to wisdom.

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.” [James 1:5 HCSB]

God gives wisdom generously. No questions asked. No criticism about how we may have neglected it or misused it in the past. We ask, He gives. It is a simple transaction.

Yet sometimes I forget that. I struggle on in my own wisdom without stopping to ask Him for His. It isn’t until I get to the end of my rope that I remember to ask. Instead of it being my first thought, it is my last.

And, I admit, sometimes I may not want to do things God’s way. In my own rebellion and stubbornness, I want to do what I want to do. So, I ignore the wisdom He gives. Until I end up at a dead end. Then I must return in repentance and ask again. Praise His Holy Name, He still gives.

Thank you, LORD, for the wisdom You give when we come to you. Amen

November 10, 2023 0 comment
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Our Wit’s End

by TerryLema August 17, 2023

Oswald Chambers wrote “When we come to our wit’s end, that’s when we come to God’s wisdom.”

That’s food for thought. Maybe we should come to our wit’s end a little sooner than we usually do and get to God’s wisdom faster!

Ps 111:10: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His instructions have good insight. His praise endures forever.” [HCSB]

The fear of the Lord is only the beginning of wisdom.  Just the beginning.  But it is the most necessary part.  We must fear, reverence, respect, worship, respond to, and see the Lord first before we can begin to partake of His wisdom.  Reverence for the LORD opens the door. But something must come after that.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us. The Spirit leads us in all righteousness, explains things to us, shows us the Savior, and opens God’s precepts to us. Our will, however, also plays a part. We must follow his precepts to have good understanding for God’s wisdom to grow and flourish in us.

Ours should be a constant and consistent seeking of God’s wisdom, and a persistent following and outflow of His precepts and principals. Our churches should be filled with men and women possessing godly wisdom and understanding.

Sadly, that is not always the case.  There are many who are at their wit’s end but failing to partake of God’s wisdom.  Church leadership must emphasize reverence for the LORD.  If we focus on flash and ignore fruit, it will be to our detriment.

August 17, 2023 0 comment
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Lack Wisdom?

by TerryLema May 21, 2023

Every day I receive a few emails containing a “Verse-of-the-Day.”  Often those verses confirm something I have been thinking about, or something in my devotion that I had planned to send out that day. Sometimes those verses reflect a celebration, such as Mother’s Day or Easter or Christmas.

The other day two of the verses spoke about wisdom. The first spoke of the wisdom found in God. “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways!” [Romans 11:33 HCSB]

The second verse spoke of the wisdom we need and where we can find it.  “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and without criticizing and it will be given to him.” [James 1:5 HCSB]

I admit I started to laugh when I opened that second verse … it was the first condition set forth in that verse that got e, “Now if any of you lack wisdom….”

Did James really think there are some out there that do NOT lack wisdom?

Every day life tosses something at us that we probably did not expect. Every day the enemy of our soul tries to deceive us. Every day the world tries to influence us to think like it does. Every day our own sin nature tries to convince us it still has power over us.

Every day we need to combat those things, not with our own wisdom or in our own strength but in God’s wisdom and the power of His Spirit within us.

God says all we have to do is ask. So, do we?

May 21, 2023 0 comment
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by TerryLema November 17, 2022

Oh to be wise! I look around at our society today and I often wonder where “wisdom” went. I see advertisements for some reality shows that just leave me speechless, often asking aloud, “can people really be that dumb?”  Apparently, they can.

The Bible is a wonderful guide to wisdom. The entire book of Proverbs is devoted to wisdom, and so is David’s Psalm 37, titled in my Bible, “Instruction in Wisdom.” One of the best-known verses is verse 4. “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.” [HCSB]

As I often remind people, that verse does not mean God gives us everything we want. You may want that Lamborghini; you may even think you need that Lamborghini, but this verse does not guarantee that you will get that Lamborghini.

What it does mean is that when God gives you that new heart in place of your old heart of stone, it comes complete with the desires He wants you to have. Now your desires are His desires.

There are two other wisdom instructions in Psalm 37 that thrill my heart. Verse 18 promises, “The Lord watches over the blameless all their days, and their inheritance will last forever.” [HCSB]

God is watching over me. I used to be afraid when people told me God was watching me, but that was before I knew God for Who He is. To know now that God watches “over” me brings a reassurance and security that cannot be found anywhere else. And He is also watching “over” my inheritance – nothing can touch what I have placed in His care.

Finally, verses 23 and 24 promise that “A man’s steps are established by the Lord, and He takes pleasure in his way. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the Lord holds his hand.” [HCSB]

As I have aged, falling is a very real hazard. I have to be so careful of every step. And when I do fall, it is almost impossible to get up without help. Spiritually, however, I am extremely secure! God has established my steps, He leads me on level ground. And if I should deviate from His path, and fall, the instant I turn to Him, He lifts me up.

Thank you, LORD. Today I focus on the delights you give my heart. I praise you for watching over me, for keeping my inheritance, for establishing my steps and holding my hand! Amen

 

November 17, 2022 0 comment
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A Trip, A Chair, A Pizza

by TerryLema October 20, 2022

Recently Bob and I took a little trip, and I do mean little. We got in the car and traveled about 20 miles to a nearby town. We ate lunch at a lovely little diner. Then we went to a furniture store in that little town and bought a chair.

I have been very uncomfortable lately. My back and neck ache. I thought maybe it was stemming from not having a chair in the house where my back is properly supported. We bought a mid-sized rocker/recliner and hopefully, that will help my back and neck.

We came back to Caldwell and decided to get a pizza from the local Papa Murphy’s to have for dinner. We were gone from a little before 11AM to 2 PM, about three hours. We spent the next few hours rearranging the furniture so we could put the new recliner in the same location as the old recliner. By the time we were done, it felt like we had worked a 40-hour week!

Growing old-er wasn’t so bad. Being old is a different story. Last night I would have traded every bit of wisdom I am supposed to have garnered over the years for a little strength from when I was young-er.

In one of Job’s discussions with his three so-called friends, Job spoke of old age and wisdom.  “Wisdom is found with the elderly and understanding comes with long life.” [Job 12:12 HCSB]

I agree with Job – and I also disagree with Job. Not all old-er people are wise. That is probably because they were not very teachable when they were young-er. If you will not learn at any age, you certainly will not become wise as you age.

Job went on, however, and in the next verse he told his comforters just where the wisdom of the elderly comes from.  “Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.” [Job 12:13 HCSB]

Today: Thank you LORD that I found life in You and the wisdom, strength, counsel and understanding that belong to You – and which You so graciously impart to Your children.

 

October 20, 2022 0 comment
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Length of Years

by TerryLema July 3, 2022

Recently a 17-year-old by the name of Christopher Harding Jones from Georgia became the first person to successfully complete the latest American Ninja Warrior course.

This young man and his family were wearing tees that read “Living Wide.” This was a motto that the teen’s father lived by. Jones explained, “My dad built me a Ninja course. He started getting really excited about the prospect of me legitimately being on the show. But, about five years ago, my dad was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer and given only four months to life. It didn’t seem fair, my dad never smoked in his entire life. My family’s worry was that he’d sort of give up and shut down.”

Instead, Jones said that his dad did the opposite and “coined the phrase ‘Living Wide.’ It wasn’t about the length of your life; it was the width. ‘Living Wide’ ended up changing hundreds of people’s lives around the world. He entered these groups with people with terminal illnesses and encouraged them to live their life to the fullest. Not only did it change their lives, but it also changed our family …. He was given only four months to life, instead, he lived four years.”

As I read about what this young man had to say, I was reminded of a verse in Psalm 90:12. “Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.” [HCSB]

Psalm 90 was a prayer of Moses. Moses had a lot of days, 120 years of days. I wonder what he was thinking when he wrote that we develop wisdom in our hearts when we learn to number our days? Think he would have agreed that “Living Wide” is much more important than simply “Living Long”?

July 3, 2022 0 comment
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“X” Marks the Spot

by TerryLema October 23, 2021

I was watching an easy-going murder mystery on the Hallmark Mystery Movie channel the other day. In the story, a young man found a treasure map in something he bought. He decided to search for the treasure.  He used Google Earth to find the lake, figured out the clues and rode his bicycle to the spot of the “X.” After getting permission from the property owner, he started to dig, certain he was going to find pirate’s gold.

Of course, there was no pirate’s gold, but he did find something precious to the old man who owned the property, a long-lost memento of his deceased wife and son. “X” did mark the spot for the old man.

For us, our “X” is in the shape of a cross, for it is in Christ that we find all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Col 2:3: “Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” [NIV]

In one sense those treasures are hidden, and we need to search and dig for them by diligently studying our Bibles.  In another sense, however, they are readily open and available to us.

God is not seeking to keep His treasures from us. In fact, He has sent His Spirit to encourage and enable us to obtain the wisdom and knowledge of Christ. His Spirit empowers us, but there still must be cooperation and effort on our part.

Father, thank you that in Christ I may find all the wisdom and knowledge I need for life. Give me a great desire to discover the wisdom and knowledge of Christ. Amen.

October 23, 2021 0 comment
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Wit’s End

by TerryLema October 6, 2021

Oswald Chambers wrote … when we come to our wit’s end, that’s when we come to God’s wisdom.

As I read that I chuckled and thought that maybe we should come to our wit’s end a little sooner than we usually do and get to God’s wisdom faster!

Ps 111:10:  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.  [NIV]

The fear of the Lord is only the beginning of wisdom.  Just the beginning.  But it is the most necessary part.  We must fear, reverence, respect, worship, respond to, and see the Lord first in order to begin to partake of His wisdom.  But that only opens the door.  Something must come after that.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us (just that thought should have us on our knees praising God’s ways!).  The Spirit leads us in all righteousness, explains things to us, shows us the Savior, and opens up God’s precepts to us. Once again, though, our will plays a part, we have to “follow his precepts” in order to have good understanding, in order for God’s wisdom to grow and flourish in us.

Ours should be a constant and consistent seeking of God’s wisdom, and a persistent following and outflow of His precepts and principals. Our churches should be filled with men and women possessing supernatural wisdom and understanding.  Sadly, that is not the case.  There are far too many who are at their wit’s end but failing to partake of God’s wisdom.

Maybe church leadership has failed the church in this area.  Maybe we been focused too much on flash and not on fruit. Maybe it is time for us to turn that around.

 

October 6, 2021 0 comment
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Wisdom’s Source

by TerryLema May 22, 2021

James has a lot to say about wisdom. We know from other places in Scripture that God looks at those who reject His plan of salvation as “foolish,” and those who accept it as “wise.” We also know that even after coming to Christ Jesus for salvation we are going to need a lot more wisdom to handle life in this world as models of Christ Jesus our LORD.

In his opening chapter James reminds us we can go to God and ask for more wisdom, and that God will not only grant it, but He will also grant it without criticizing us. We just need to remember to ask!

In chapter 3 James talks about two differing types of wisdom. He first describes the type of wisdom we do not want and tells us it comes from three different sources. “But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth.  Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.  For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.” [vs 14-16 HCSB]

The sources of this unwanted “wisdom” are the world, the flesh, and the devil. “Wisdom” from those sources produces envy, bitter ambition, pride, lies, disorder, and every kind of evil.

But James does not just leave us there wondering about where to find good “wisdom.” He tells us. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy.” [vs 17 HCSB]

God provides a “wisdom from above,” His wisdom given us through the indwelling Spirit of Truth. When we have that “wisdom,” it produces peace, purity, gentleness, mercy, obedience, and other good fruits. There is no partiality nor hypocrisy contained therein.

We can know the kind of “wisdom” we have in our lives by what it is producing in our lives.

May 22, 2021 0 comment
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Wisdom’s Gentleness

by TerryLema May 21, 2021

Wisdom for spiritual maturity and growth is given to us through the Spirit of Truth who indwells all those who have surrendered their lives to God by faith in Christ Jesus. Still there are times when we need to acknowledge that we are lacking in spiritual wisdom, and James 1:5 reminds us that we can go directly to God and ask for it – and He will grant it without criticizing (or even reminding us how we may not have used the wisdom He granted before!).

James will dive a bit deeper into wisdom in Chapter 3. He begins that section of his letter by talking about how difficult it is to control the tongue. He ends that section talking about the wisdom that is from above.

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” [vs 13 NKJV]

I love how this wisdom, described in the NKJV as “meekness of wisdom” is described in the HCSB.  “Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness.”

“Wisdom’s gentleness!” The word is prautés and it means just that – gentleness. It is derived from the root “pra-“ that emphasizes the divine origin of this meekness or gentle strength. It expresses power with reserve and gentleness.

Our good conduct, our behavior exhibited to those around us must contain wisdom’s gentleness. It is never to be arrogant or divisive. It never puts others down, but instead is designed to show truth with compassion and kindness that lifts others up.

May we always have and demonstrate wisdom’s gentleness in our daily walk with God. Amen

 

May 21, 2021 0 comment
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Pastor Terry Lema

Pastor Terry Lema has been married for 53 years, and has 3 children and 3 grandsons. Terry graduated from Trinity Bible College, and and recently retired as Lead Pastor at The Way Church in Middleton, Idaho.

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