Daily Beat from your Pastor’s Heart:
At 8:15 this morning, I will have a wisdom tooth extracted.
I can’t afford to lose any wisdom; I need all I can get.
However, God’s Word explains what wisdom is, how important it is that we seek after it and where it is found.
The spirit of wisdom has given us the highest counsel, tucked away quietly in the book of Proverbs: Get wisdom! Get understanding! …Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding (Prov. 4:5, 7).
The secret place is pursued by those with an eye for enduring spiritual treasure.
Time spent elsewhere might enable us to earn wealth on the earthly plane, but from an eternal perspective there are things we value so much more, such as wisdom, understanding, and the knowledge of Christ.
Wise people are seekers of God!
When we seek to “get wisdom,” we are pursuing Jesus Himself because wisdom is a Person (1 Cor. 1:30).
We are also pursuing Holy Spirit fullness, for wisdom is a Spirit (Isaiah 11:2).
Joseph and Daniel are gripping examples of men who, through their pursuit of the Holy Spirit, displayed such remarkable wisdom that the greatest kings of the earth brought them into their councils (Genesis 41:38; Daniel 5:11).
They discovered that wisdom truly is to be valued above gold and silver.
What does it mean to be a person of wisdom and understanding?
The answer is to be found in Psalms 14:2, “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.”
“Any who understand” means the same thing as “any who seek God.”
Therefore, “to understand” means “to seek God.”
People of understanding seek God.
Those with even half a brain will devote themselves to an abandoned pursuit of God.
People who don’t seek God simply don’t get it.
They’re dull and insensitive, playing the fool (see the previous verse, Psa. 14:1).
People of understanding—God seekers—have come to understand the nature of true spiritual treasure.
The wise know where the “real money” is!
By looking at what Jesus means by “true riches,” I hope I can stir your heart to pursue the greatest riches of the kingdom.
Jesus talks about these “true riches” when He says, Luke 16:11, “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”
In the surrounding verses, Jesus is calling His followers to responsible management of financial resources.
He is saying that if we are not found faithful in our handling of unrighteous earthly money, then God will not entrust us with true riches.
So the question is, what are those “true riches?”
Are they positions of influence and ministry effectiveness?
Are they the entrustment of oversight over eternally precious human souls?
Those answers hold portions of truth, but they are not the highest answer.
The highest answer is found later on in the New Testament when Paul wrote under divine inspiration, 2 Corinthians 4:6-7, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
So what is “this treasure” to which Paul refers?
It is, “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Simply put, the treasure is the knowledge of Christ.
This is affirmed in Colossians 2:3 when Paul, speaking of Christ, wrote, “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
So the “true riches” of Luke 16:11 are the wisdom and knowledge of Christ.
Jesus scorns earthly riches.
But He extols the true eternal riches of knowing God.
When we are faithful with unrighteous money, we qualify for the revelation of the beauty of the glorious Son of God, the Man Christ Jesus.
True riches are the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
If we have even a smidgen of sense within us, we will pursue the knowledge of God with abandonment.
And that’s where the secret place comes in!
It’s here—with the word open before us, with hearts tenderized by the Spirit, and with a spiritual appetite that pants for the food of heaven—that we peer into the beauties of holiness in order to see Him more clearly and know His ways.
Our souls echo the cry of Moses of long ago, Exodus 33:13, “Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.”
The Lord’s kindness has promised, Isaiah 45:3, “And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.”
Originally, this was a promise to Cyrus that he would uncover the hidden treasures that were buried in Egypt’s pyramids.
Applied to us today, this is the Lord’s assurance that there are great riches to be mined in the secret places of the Most High.
Search out the nuggets hidden in the dark recesses of God’s richly-laden word!
Lord, help us to value the treasures that are hidden in You, and grant us the appetite to seek You accordingly.
Give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation that the eyes of our understanding might be enlightened, that we might know You!
Ephesians 1:15-19, “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,”
Until Tomorrow,
With A Shepherd’s Love
Pastor
TODAY’S ? LIST:
Amy Garner’s Mother – better – ?
Andria Carter -Ashley’s Sister – ?
Barbara Shed’s Family – ?
Bill Lawhead – ?
Bill Moody -?
Brandy Dean – Ashley’s Sister – ?
Brian Swofford Family -?
Charlie Sessom -Waiting – ?
Cheri/Barry Hill -?
Colby/Connor – Allison’s G’sons-?
Debra Roberts – Please Please ?
Denise Stubbs – Kim Allison’s Mom ?
Don Slate – Angela Bryan’s Dad – hospice?
Doug Fritzel – ?
Hanna Hall ?
James Parsons – Mae’s Brother ?
Joyceann – James Garner’s Daughter ?
Kimberly- Dustin’s Sister- ?
Larry Barker ?
Lavona Davis -?
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah ?
Lisa Land’s Family – ?
Lynn -Nancy Brown’s Daughter – ?
Mary Sims – ?
Michael Stanley – ?
Nancy Brown’s G’Daughter – ?
Nora Allison – Dustin’s Mom
Pastor Stucke- Nikki’s Dad?
Paula Ferus’ Missionary friend ?
Ricky Stubbs – ?
Roseleigh Osborn – ?
Sarah Parker – ?
Sharon Blalock- ?
Shaelyn – Jill’s friend?
Shannon Golden – ?
Sheila Simmons Cousin – ?
Susan Bryan – Mike’s Mom – ?
Susie Grant & Family – ?
Su Rocker – Shingles – ?
Terrell Loyd – ?
Tim McCollum – ?
Todd Bailey – ?
Todd Roberts -?
Tom Witcher -?
Tommy/Gayle Harris- ?
Tracie Ballard -?
Wanda Galanti – ?