Daily Wisdom

 Jdg 11:30 ‘And Jephthah made a vow unto the LORD, and said, If you will give the Ammonites into my hand.

Jephthah’s vow was foolish. There are two schools of thought when it comes to this passage. One believes that the daughter of Jephthah was pledged to perpetual virginity (vs 37-39), leaving no heir to his throne. The other school of thought believes that Jephthah sacrificed his daughter to keep his vow. Regardless, Jephthah’s sin was trying to make a deal with the Lord! (Mt 5:37 ‘But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.’)

This vow was in part due to the weakness of his faith. Assuming the Father needs some returned sacrificial gift of appreciation from us. The Lord only desires our obedient heart, not our gifts (Isa 1:13-23). Let your yea be yea, and hold to the Father’s promises, don’t try to negotiate or barter for them!

The soul of the diligent, not master negotiator shall be made rich in the Lord… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

 Ezra10:4 ‘Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.’

Following Ezra's prayer the people repented, then asked for direction in restoring their relationship with God, because sin always separates us from the Father. But true repentance only starts with confession – otherwise that would be mere lip service. It must lead to changed attitudes and behavior. Repentance stops the actions, thoughts and motives that are against the Father’s Word, and corrects our wayward thinking to His way of thinking.

Repent is taken from two Greek words: (meta – meaning “after”) and (noeo - meaning “mind”). The word literally means “after thought.” Repentance simply means “to change your mind to that of the Father’s. (Phl 2:5 ‘Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.’)

If your thinking and the Lord’s don’t agree, one of you need to change your mind… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Gal 1:10 ‘For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.’

Very simple, ‘No man can serve two masters…’ (Mt 6:24). One may defend their actions by stating man is not a master, only God. Why then do we try to please man’s interest or desire his approval, would that not be the due the Master only? Paul was spiritually blunt and straightforward with the Galatians and their dangerous efforts. If you’re right by God’s Word, then you’re right. One doesn’t need the approval or acceptance of man in the matter.

Seek to please God and man and you’ll please neither, serve God’s interest and you’ll be able to serve man’s need and that will be pleasing to both… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 1Th 4:18 ‘Wherefore comfort one another with these words.’

These words of comfort come from the promise of ‘the day of the Lord’ (2nd coming of Christ). Assuring those who ‘believe that Jesus died and rose again’ (vs 14) will not perish but will ‘ever be with the Lord’ (vs 17). We are told to comfort one another with these words, but we can’t comfort another if we’re complaining. If the promises of Jesus doesn’t show comfort in our own lives, why would it appear to offer comfort to another?

Gratitude changes our attitude; you will find more to be grateful for; having a complaining spirit and we’ll find more to complain about. Complaining is a prideful act of a self-deserving spirit.

One can complain because roses have thorns, or be thankful that thorns have roses… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 1Th 4:7 “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”

The word (holiness) is the Greek word (hagiasmos) and is taken from the Greek word for “saint.” Holiness (or, sainthood) is not an attainment, but a predetermined state into which God, in His grace, calls sinful men to a path as Christians (Rom 13:11). Thus, sanctification is a continual process that has a two-fold purpose:

1. We’re to be set apart “positionally” (like Abraham - Gen 17:9-11)

2. We’re to be set apart “continually” (his descendants - Gen 17:12-14)

Holiness is the continual perfection/maturity of man by way of the Father’s grace. As a Christian we must yield to the Holy Spirit within us through His Word. Doing so we begin to pursue His Holiness, which will begin to set us apart from the world and be an object of His glory. When one grasp holiness, one then grasps the depth of their sin.

Holiness, not happiness, is the end purpose for man… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

 Act 17:2 “And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures.”

This word ‘manner’ is found 196 times in scriptures. Here in (Acts 17:2) it’s the Greek word (kata) it’s a preposition meaning it gives direction or emphasis to the noun. It denotes, most frequently, intensity in one’s actions. Point being, Paul’s walk in the Lord had intensity in his passion and purpose.  We can find three scriptures that likewise calls us to consider our intensity in and for the Lord’s purpose in our own ministry/testimony and if it is worthy?

Eph 4:1 ‘Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.’

Phl 1:27 ‘Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.’

Col 1:10 ‘Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.’ 

Paul’s strength, as should be ours, was the fact that his manner of walk was not in his strength or worthiness, Paul nor we have any worthiness. Instead, Paul walked in the worthiness of Christ that afforded him the grace of God, which was is message to all he encountered. 

 Act in such a manner that you are living proof of a loving God… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 2Co 3:9 ‘For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.’

That which condemns you will never be greater than that which redeems you! The gift and promise of Christ righteousness works a greater reward than your works of sin. Jesus took the tree of death so we could receive the tree of life. Redemption is life, sin is death; your choice is to get busy living or get busy dying? (1 Jn 1:9)

Being a Christian is not about you changing your life for the better, it’s about the righteousness of Christ within you that works to His glory and your betterment… HSAY