Finding Wisdom and Understanding - Job 28-29 and Acts 13:1-25
Job delivered an eloquent discourse on searching for wisdom and understanding in chapter 28. He showed us why so few people find them. True wisdom and understanding only come from God. In order to receive them we must search for them as for gold and silver. However, the main thing is that we must fear God and depart from evil. That shows God that we are serious about applying the wisdom and understanding in our lives. Once God sees that, He will give us His wisdom abundantly. Job had found God's wisdom, because he had searched for it, and he had lived a life of fearing God and departing from evil. He recounted his life in chapter 29. He did not live for himself, but for others. The people around him recognized his wisdom and understanding. That is how God wants us to live today. We must not live by our own understanding or the wisdom of this world.
In Acts 13 God called out the first international missionaries, Barnabas and Saul. When did God do this? The Holy Spirit spoke to the group after they had spent time seeking the Lord in worship, in fasting, and in prayer. They were already being obedient to the Lord, but they wanted to know even more of His will. They wanted more understanding, and God gave it to them. When Barnabas and Saul set out for the mission field, they did not depend on their own wisdom and power. They trusted God to use them. God showed Saul that he should confront the false prophet, Elymas, and when Saul obeyed, God struck Elymas with blindness. This led to the salvation of the leader of the land of Cyprus. Then, we can see how God gave Saul or Paul the wisdom of how to preach the Word in the synagogues. When he did it God's way, some of the people responded. Again, God gave His wisdom to those who were willing to live by it. We must be willing to live by God's wisdom, and then, He will give it to us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 30-31 and Acts 13:26-52.
In Acts 13 God called out the first international missionaries, Barnabas and Saul. When did God do this? The Holy Spirit spoke to the group after they had spent time seeking the Lord in worship, in fasting, and in prayer. They were already being obedient to the Lord, but they wanted to know even more of His will. They wanted more understanding, and God gave it to them. When Barnabas and Saul set out for the mission field, they did not depend on their own wisdom and power. They trusted God to use them. God showed Saul that he should confront the false prophet, Elymas, and when Saul obeyed, God struck Elymas with blindness. This led to the salvation of the leader of the land of Cyprus. Then, we can see how God gave Saul or Paul the wisdom of how to preach the Word in the synagogues. When he did it God's way, some of the people responded. Again, God gave His wisdom to those who were willing to live by it. We must be willing to live by God's wisdom, and then, He will give it to us.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 30-31 and Acts 13:26-52.