Wisdom for the Ages: Wisdom Restored. Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Monday, February 19, 2018
Listen to “Thoughts in Worship 02.19.2018” on Spreaker.
“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who obtains understanding. For her benefit is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than gold. She is more precious than rubies, and none of the things you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are very pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful. She is like a tree of life to those who obtain her, and everyone who grasps hold of her will be blessed” (Proverbs 3:13–18, NET)
Transcendent Correction
Adam and Eve needed to be chastised by God after they sinned. Thus, they were barred from the Tree of Life until they accepted His desired outcome of His discipline in them—holiness. Now, all who embrace God’s instructions, discipline, refinement under trials, and know He has only our good at heart, will have a right to the Tree of Life when Jesus comes.
Our theme text comes right after the passage that describes God’s loving chastisement. Just as a caring father must correct his own son, God corrects His children. God’s correction transcends earthly rectitude, however. It works the peaceable fruits of righteousness that lead to eternal life with God. Once we learn to accept and embrace this fact, we will give thanks for God’s goodness.
We’ll Be Glad He Did
We will be happy that God’s correction made way for us to find the fullness of His wisdom. We will value it as we understand it more and will recognize that silver, gold, and precious jewels pale in comparison to God’s wisdom.
Yachts, mansions, sports cars, millions of shares of highly valued stocks and bonds, vacations to the most exotic destinations in the world cannot compare with God’s wisdom to those who embrace it. For once we have acquired all of the world’s wealth, it just takes one seemingly random accident, end-stage diagnosis, strong-armed robbery, or heart attack to take it all away. But if we receive God’s correction, which leads to reception of His wisdom, no power on earth or under the earth can take it away, except our own decision.
Rights Restored
We must choose everyday to embrace wisdom and seek for her as we would earthly treasure. So when we do this by faith, we will receive the reward. Here’s what the Bible says: “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14). The payment for sin is eternal death. The payment for righteousness by faith is immortality and eternal life.
Truth is, God gave all of heaven’s treasury, in the person and work of Jesus Christ, so we can be restored and eat from the Tree of Life that bares 12 manner of fruit, and whose leaves are for the healing of the nations. Embrace wisdom, and embrace Jesus with the life He gives.
A word to the foolish is wasteful. A word to the wise is sufficient.
