Daily Wisdom

“By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she received the spies with peace.”  Heb 11:31

If there is ever a truth that we all need to learn is the fact that God remembers us because of our faith, not our profession.  Rahab as a prostitute paints a clear picture of such truth for our lives.  One who was more inclined to be, and was, rejected by others God worked through in a great way.  And in turn she received God’s promise of protection and safety for her and her family. Rahab was able to take the risks associated with helping the spies of Israel, because she realized the Israelites relied on a God worth trusting. For Rahab, prostitution was a source of survival not accomplishment, but once God became involved it became just that; a great accomplishment of her faith in a God that brought her eternal success.  Rahab was only one of two women mentioned in Hebrews 11, God‘s hall of faith chapter. God is quick to work through people – like Rahab – whom man are inclined to reject. Rahab’s ultimate success came not through man’s standards, but rather not letting fear affect her faith in God’s ability to deliver.

Great success is wrought through the greatest of faith

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“And they stoned Stephen…and he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord lay not this sin to their charge…”  Acts 7:59 & 60

Around the world, the gospel has most often taken root in places prepared by the blood of martyrs. But before people can give their lives for the gospel, they must first live their lives for the gospel. One way God trains his servants is to place them in insignificant positions. Their desire to serve Christ is translated into the reality of serving others.  In the case of Stephen his life was the epitome of giving one’s life in servitude for the purpose of the gospel reaching others.  They stoned him to death while he prayed for their forgiveness. His final words show how much like Jesus he had become in just a short time. His death had a lasting impact on young Saul (Paul), who would move from being a violent persecutor of Christians to being one of the greatest champions of the gospel the church has known.  Stephen's life is a continual challenge to all Christians. Because he was the first to die for the faith, his sacrifice raises questions today: are you living for Christ in way that allows you to give to others?

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“For mine eyes have seen thy salvation.” Lk 2:30

The greatest gift man will ever come to obtain is when he realizes the great love Christ has for him!  Simeon and Anna, both of these godly saints recognized such a gift when they encountered Jesus in the temple and was able to identify Him as the Messiah.  We don't know how surprised he was to discover the Savior as a baby in Mary's arms, but we do know that he recognized Jesus and gave God praise for his faithfulness (vs28). When Simeon saw the baby, he considered his life complete (vs 30).  Such fullness and completeness of life can only come with the understanding of Christ eternal love for you.  Nothing else will ever be obtained or accomplished that will measure in worth. By exercising their faithful anticipation of God’s promise, they didn’t miss the opportunity to acknowledge Christ love for them.  Don’t become spiritually blinded in recognizing the same promise, if so life will never find its fullness and worth elsewhere.

Unfortunately what we are prone to see depends mainly on what we are looking for!

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“And they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy…wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?”  Num 16:3

Of the eight most common bird species throughout all regions of the U.S., the most common is the “Sparrow.”  It should not be surprising that we are told…of the two sparrows, "one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Mat 10:29 & 31).  Yet such a promise was not enough for the likes of Korah, one of Israel’s and Moses leaders, he wanted more.  Korah instigated his own mini-rebellion and confronted Moses and Aaron. Their list of complaints boils down to three statements: (1) You are no better than anyone else; (2) everyone in Israel has been chosen of the Lord; (3) we don't need to obey you. It is amazing to see how Korah twisted the first two statements—both true—to reach a selfish conclusion.  Korah's hidden claim was this: "I have as much right to lead as Moses does." His error cost him not only his job—a position of service and influence for God that he enjoyed—but also his life.  Korah's life gives us numerous warnings:

(1) Don't let desire for what someone else has make you discontented with what you already have.

(2) Don't try to raise your own self-esteem by attacking someone else's.

(3) Don't use part of God's Word to support what you want, rather than allowing it to shape you.  

(4) Don't expect to find satisfaction in power and position; God will work through you where He has you.

Korah failed to realize the significant position God placed him in and allowed greed/selfishness to blind him instead.

Desire is the pulse of the soul, as a doctor offers diagnosis by ones appetite, so may we by our desires.

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

"But after Jehoiada's death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice. They decided to abandon the Temple of the LORD, the God of their ancestors…” 2 Ch 24:17

Joash’s failure was in his discipleship; he became dependent upon man’s guidance and wisdom and never matured in his relationship and reliance in the Lord.  Like many new Christians, children in the Lord, Joash's knowledge of God was secondhand and through others knowledge. It was a start, but the king needed his own relationship with God that would outlast and overrule the changes in the advice he received.  It would be easy to criticize Joash's failure were it not for the fact that we often fall into the same traps and never learn to mature in our own personal relationship and trust in God and seek it through others.

“Christianity without discipleship is like Christianity without Christ, you want get far without the other.”

HSAY…Todd 

Daily Wisdom

"She named him Zebulun, for she said, 'God has given me a good reward. Now my husband will treat me with respect, for I have given him six sons” Gen 30:20

How do we respond when life seems set against us? Leah faced a blunt and painful world. She observed it apparently only through Jacob’s affection.  And although Leah was not his first choice, Jacob kept his word and accepted her as his wife, but his love was for Leah’s sister, Rachel.  Leah revealed how she felt toward Jacob in the name she gave their first son, Reuben. The name expressed her desire to be noticed by her husband. Because Leah and Rachel competed for Jacob's attention, there was constant friction in the family. They measured their worth against each other by their ability to bear children. Leah was winning the fertility contest handily, but her victory carried little satisfaction.  Although God’s love and blessings towards Leah were apparent, and she gave God specific credit in the birth of five of her sons, she never appeared to respond towards God’s love for her. One’s opportunity to find joy is easily missed when they seek to find it by way of man’s approval and affection; instead of God’s promise.

Never allow your strength to be used holding anything tighter than you’re holding to God!

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom...Persistence

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” John 3:1-2

The patience in persistence…this describes Nicodemus. It took a while for Nicodemus to come out of the dark, but God was patient with this "undercover" believer.  Afraid of being discovered, Nicodemus met with Jesus at night. Daylight conversations between Pharisees and Jesus tended to be antagonistic, but Nicodemus really wanted to learn; getting more than he expected he left that evenings encounter a changed man. He came away with a whole new understanding of both God and himself. As the high council discussed ways to eliminate Jesus, Nicodemus raised the question of justice. Although his objection was overruled, he had spoken up. He had begun to change.  Our last picture of Nicodemus shows him asking for Jesus' body in order to provide for its burial (Joh 19:39).  Nicodemus was making a bold move, yet he was willing to continuing to grow.  God looks for steady growth, not instant perfection. Jesus will be patient with us, but He does ask for persistence and boldness as a Christian.  How well does your present level of spiritual growth match up with how long you have known Jesus, are you being persistent or requiring Jesus to be patient?  

Even the darkest hour only has sixty-minutes; being persistent the snail made it to the ark!

HSAY…Todd 

Daily Wisdom

"But as the Ark of the LORD entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she was filled with contempt for him" 2Sa 6:16

Sometimes love is not enough. To Michal, Saul's daughter, the courageous young David must have seemed like a dream come true. Saul, once becoming aware of her affection towards David, saw this as an opportunity to get rid of his rival. He promised Michal's hand in marriage in exchange for David's success in the impossible task of killing 100 Philistines. But David was victorious, and so Saul lost a daughter and saw his rival become even more popular with the people.  Michal quickly found herself defending David against her father and helping David escape, but it resulted in Saul's anger and he gave her to another man, Palti, but David eventually took her back.   Unfortunately, like her brother Jonathan, Michal did not have a deep relationship with God to help through such difficult times.  Instead, she became bitter, lied under pressure and was unwilling to share David's joyful worship of God. How quickly and easily we can become bitter with life's unexpected turns. But our bitterness only hinders our ability to see God’s goodness in difficult situations. It’s like drinking poison and expecting someone to die.

We’re not as responsible for what happens to us as we are for how we respond to it; what begins in anger often ends in shame.

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem…”  Ezra 4:24

We often learn, like Zerubbabel, our efforts in life cannot consist of God handling the minor while we manage the major.  When Babylon was defeated in 539 B.C., the Persian ruler, Cyrus, allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple.  Under Zerubbabel they began not by laying the city walls or constructing government buildings, but by rebuilding the altar, worshiping God together, and celebrating a feast. Zerubbabel established a spiritual foundation, not a personal or selfish desire for their building efforts.  But soon problems arose.  An older group remembered Solomon’s glorious Temple and was saddened at how much smaller and less glorious this one was; it was not as they wanted it!  Selfish discouragement and desire, along with fear, caused the work to grind to a halt. The people went to their homes, and 16 years passed as people quit laboring for God simply because they became focused on themselves rather than God’s will!

Selfishness is the art of creating your own storms, then complaining when it rains!

HSAY…Todd 

Daily Wisdom...Humbleness

“And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord... But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction…”  2 Chro  26:4 & 16

Uzziah was a remarkably successful king. His achievements brought him fame. He was successful in war and peace, in planning and execution, in building and planting.  He did so many things well that a consuming pride gradually invaded his life like the leprous disease that finally destroyed his body.  We are never closer to failure than during our greatest successes; if we fail to recognize God's part in our achievements in life.  Uzziah's pride was rooted in his lack of thankfulness. We have no accounts of this king ever showing appreciation to God for the marvelous gifts he received.  And though he reigned for 52 years, with many accomplishments, it ultimately lead to a life of ungratefulness and pride (Pro 16:18) and his death.

The passing of pride is in one’s gratefulness in God.

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom...Indifference

“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron…offered strange fire before the Lord, which He commanded them not.”  Lev 10:1

Some brothers, like Cain and Abel or Jacob and Esau, get each other in trouble. Nadab and Abihu got in trouble together.  Although little is known of their early years, the Bible gives us an abundance of information about the environment in which they grew up. They were eyewitnesses of God's mighty acts of the Exodus. They saw their father, Aaron, their uncle, Moses, and their aunt, Miriam, in action many times. They had firsthand knowledge of God's holiness as few men have ever had, and, for a while at least, they followed God wholeheartedly (Lev 8:36). But at a crucial moment they chose to treat with indifference the clear instructions from God. The consequence of their sin was instant and shocking to all.  In taking great latitude of comparison, the fallen angles greatest sin was doing so in such great light of God.  We are in danger of making the same mistake as these brothers when we treat lightly the justice and holiness of God. We must draw near to God while realizing that there should be a proper fear as well. Don't forget that the opportunity to know God personally is based on his gracious invitation to an always unworthy people, not a gift to be taken for granted. Be thankful of great knowledge and wisdom in God, but always remember unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required. (Lk 12:48)

The sadness of indifference is when one realizes the reason they didn’t change was simply their unwillingness to do so.

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom..."Selfishness"

“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”  Phl 2:4

We're all selfish, just to what degree. Laban's whole life was stamped by selfishness. He made profitable arrangements for his sister Rebekah's marriage to Isaac and used his own daughters' lives as bargaining chips. Jacob eventually outmaneuvered Laban, but the older man was unwilling to admit defeat. His hold on Jacob was broken, but he still tried to maintain some kind of control by getting Jacob to promise to be gone for good; realizing that Jacob and Jacob's God were more than he could handle.  On the surface, we may find it difficult to identify with Laban. But his selfishness is one point we all have in common. Like him, we often have a strong tendency to control people and events to our benefit. Our "good" reasons for treating others the way we do may simply be a thin cover on our self-centeredness, and often struggle to recognize it on our own. One way to discover it is to examine our willingness to admit when we're wrong. Laban could not bring himself to do this. If you ever amaze yourself by what you say and do to avoid facing up to wrong actions, you are getting a glimpse of your selfishness in action.

Selfishness…that art of punishing others for your own choices!

HSAY…Todd