When you felt inclined to pray it was Jesus Christ who moved you in that direction. When you said, I think I see more clearly today; truth seems to be enlarging, – it was Christ who was performing a miracle upon you. Trace all happy impulse, all sacred inspiration, all ennobling influence, to the touch, the glance,…
“I remember once hearing Whipple, of Minnesota, so well known as “The Apostle of the Indians,” utter these beautiful words: “For thirty years I have tried to see the face of Christ in those with whom I differed.” When this spirit actuates us we shall be preserved at once from a narrow bigotry and an…
Instead of craving riches and what other people possess, a wise person sees the value of hard work, which prevents poverty. Sexual lust and alcoholism may be pleasurable for the short-term, but it leads to disappointment and confusion. However, wisdom is sweet to the soul and gives security and hope for the future. Wisdom and…
“Christ is the wisdom of God; and in the knowledge of this Christ there is wisdom for you. Not wisdom only, but life, forgiveness, peace, glory, and an endless kingdom! Study Him! Acquaint yourself with Him! Whatever you are ignorant of, be not ignorant of Him. Whatever you overlook, overlook not Him. What ever you…
“Not until we have become humble and teachable, standing in awe of God’s holiness and sovereignty… acknowledging our own littleness, distrusting our own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can divine wisdom become ours” (J. I. Packer).The wise nourish others with their speech and seek genuine relationships with the poor. To…
Three quotes on righteous leadership provide a good introduction to Proverbs 14. “The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom” (James Allen). “There is no power on earth that can neutralize the influence of a…
Noah Webster wrote, ‘The virtues of men are of more consequence to society than their abilities, and for this reason, the heart should be cultivated with more assiduity than the head.” Proverbs 10 shows how wisdom and character bless a person’s life while foolishness ruins them.Righteousness and WisdomRighteousness and wisdom bring joy to your father,…
J. Arthur Lewis wrote, “Do you ever sit down and wonder what is wrong with the world? Do you ever ask yourself why it is that Christians seem to have so little influence, why they seem to achieve so little, for all their numbers, in putting the world right? To each of those two questions…
We are bombarded by sexually explicit TV shows, movies, and ads every day. Casual sex and cohabitation is widely accepted. Abstinence is thought of as an impossibility. Marriage is becoming passé for many people. The family unit is under attack and single parent households are becoming the norm. Consider the difference between wisdom and moral impurity. What…
People search many places for life. It’s found in one place only, in Christ. Watchman Nee’s quote captures the truth well: “Outside of Christ, I am only a sinner, but in Christ, I am saved. Outside of Christ, I am empty; in Christ, I am full. Outside of Christ, I am weak; in Christ, I…
We give our greatest efforts to those things that are most valuable to us. Proverbs 2 says wisdom should be at the top of our list of things we should strive for. J.I. Packer wrote: “Wisdom is the power to see and the inclination to choose the best and highest goal, together with the surest…
Victor Hugo wrote that wisdom is sacred communion. Wisdom comes by disillusionment, according to George Santayana. Robert Fulghum wrote, “Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” Concerning friends, Henri Nouwen wrote, “When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we…