Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Did you know that there is a difference between being “Smart” and being “Wise?” To be “smart” means you know a lot of things and to be “wise” means you know the best way to use the things you know. That is definitely a big difference. And that is why God uses the most unlikely people to do His work. They are more willing and more likely to ask God for help or guidance. They and we need to be more like Solomon. He was very young when he became king in place of his father David. God said to Solomon “Ask what I shall give you.” Solomon asked for wisdom, guidance from God to discern between good and evil. Can you imagine what this world would be like if we did that at all levels in our society. We would live in perfect harmony. I have felt a lot like Solomon through the years and just like Solomon I have turned to the Lord and prayed for Him to give me the words and courage to do His Work.
When we have a Baptism, Confirmation (Affirmation of Baptism), and many other times we pray a pray for them (and for ourselves). In reality, I think we should pray this prayer every morning when we get up:
We give you thanks, O God, that through water and the Holy Spirit you give us new birth, cleanse us from sin, and raise us to eternal life. Stir up in your people the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever. Amen.
Our devotion to God’s Word is difficult to maintain. Our human nature gets in the way, we think we can do it all on our own or we know what is best. “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Our piety ebbs and flows, so we must depend upon a higher power than our own. Jesus has blessed us with every spiritual blessing; it is not our piety that has been the blessing. So we must sit at the feet of the one who Himself sat at the feet of others. We grow in wisdom and stature by listening to Jesus.
To make this simple, think about The Serenity Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. We need to be in the Word of God and pray to God. For we are
His vessel.
God’s Blessings,
Pastor Gary
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52
“Give your servant (Solomon) therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil.” 1 Kings 3:9