Daily Wisdom

1 Cor 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it sis the power of God.”

Good Friday… is not just a day of remembrance, but a calling.  We’re eager to embrace the resurrection, but Jesus called us to the Cross first. There’s a famous sermon preached by many titled “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming.”  Most importantly is the fact that Friday is the road to Sunday.  There’s no resurrection without the Cross, but because of the Cross we’re promised a Good Friday. When God feels distant, when cries seem to fall in silence the Cross is what bridges your emotional needs. Reflect on the cost of the Cross and the ultimate act of friendship and love. The Cross showed His vulnerability and commitment to His love and friendship. Friends always let you in and lever let you go, they always have time and never let you down. In Jesus’s greatest act of love and friendship His hands were secured, and He was defenseless. As He looked down from the Cross and saw all the people denying Him, betraying Him, forsaking Him, and rejecting Him, in the greatest act of love and friendship, HE STAYED!

You’ll miss the goodness of His love and friendship if you miss the Goodness of Friday!

“The only crown-wearers in heaven will be the cross-bearers here below.”

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Psa 18:3 “I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”

What man announces as unworthy God often uses to announce He who is worthy. Jephthah (Jgs 11) was a mighty man of valor. Yet, he was an illegitimate son of Gilead, and thus was chased out of the country by his half-brothers. He suffered as a result of another's decision and not for any wrong he had done. Yet in spite of his brothers' rejection, God used him and he eventually judged Israel for six-years. Licking your wounds only serves the animals not man. Jephthah didn’t allow his circumstances interfere in serving God. While man may label you unworthy, God often calls the such to proclaim He who is worthy, Jesus, that’s when worth comes to the surface. God used a harlot, Rahab to do his work (Heb 11:31). It was a harlot at the well that Jesus witnessed to and used to reach a village (Jn 4). Don’t blame what your circumstance have done to you, it only delays what God can do with you. Before you complain about your circumstances consider the little-girl in (2 Kgs 5) who despite being kidnapped by an enemy captain to be a slave, was willing to be used by God to direct her master to Elisha and eventually to God. Blaming your circumstances is choosing to hold on to your crutches.

Your greatest ministry will often come out of your greatest hurt.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Jdgs 8:24 “And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey…; (vs 27) And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, and all Israel went whoring after it…”

The spoils of success can spoil the spirit!  While Gideon wisely directed the Israelite’s to allow God to rule over them rather than a king (vs 22), he was foolish in his personal choices in desiring the spoils of his victory. His personal choice greatly affected the spiritual welfare of the people God asked him to lead. Gideon allowed the spoils of his success (God’s victory not his) to become their vision of worship. Gideon was not content with God’s deliverance (which he once pleaded for in Jdgs 6:13 “Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why is all this befallen us? And where are all his miracles which our fathers told us of”) Be cautious in desiring more (spoils in life); be content in what God has delivered in your hand and allow Him to give the more. Psa 37:4 “Delight thyself in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

We’ve built bigger houses, and smaller families; made a greater living, but not a life; made worldly success popular while polluting our souls!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Pro 13:10 “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.”

In Judges 8:1-2, after Gideon had attacked and defeated the generals of the Midianites, separating from their fleeing army, Gideon called in Ephraim to “clean up” the escaping forces (“gleaning of the grapes”).  But, Ephraim's leaders felt left out because Gideon hadn’tt called them to join the onset of the battle, so they angrily confronted him. Gideon assured the leaders of Ephraim that their accomplishment was even greater than his own clan's. Not every necessary job is a highly visible or leadership role. Much of the necessary labor of any effective enterprise and ministry is considered by many to be dirty work or unfulfilling. But such work is vital to getting any task done, especially for the Lord. Engineers and millionaires may design and finance an elegant building, but it is the labors who get the work done. Pride causes us to want recognition; are you content to be God's bricklayer? There’s little press and thus prestige in the mission field, and yet the Lord calls each of us to it daily (Mt 28:19). But most are interested in designing and promoting the ministry rather than fulfilling it by sharing Christ themselves. Never let the recognition of one’s labor become more important than the purpose of the ministry itself.

Truth can be hard to swallow when one’s choking on their pride.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisodm

Jdg 7:2  “And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.”

It doesn’t matter how great you are, but rather how great God is. The Lord knew Israel/man would and has a great tendency to boast of his abilities and achievements. Thus, the Lord forced Gideon and his men into a desperate need for the Lord to intervene on their behalf, otherwise they were hopeless in their own ability.  Too many apply their faith and trust in the Lord by how big of a safety net they have. Gideon being reduced from 22,000 men to 300 not only eliminated his safety net, but also any hope of victory by his own power. Even though his visual odds had greatly diminished, Gideon was still willing to put the battle into God’s hands and in doing so saw God’ hands in it when the Lord delivered victory for Israel over the Midianites.  Seldom will you see a boastful person who is thankful, or a thankful person who is boastful (Jdgs 8:23). They say shallow streams make the most noise, silent waters run deep. If you have to boast about all of the material things achieved in your life, it’s probably because there isn’t much else to it!

Boasting makes you seem less impressive, not more impressive. If it’s worthy others will make it known (Pro 27:2).

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Jn 1:16 “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace upon grace.”

We’ve probably all had or stumbled across an old piece of furniture that has so much it could offer. Not only its appearance, but it’s quality and function could almost be endless. But, it’s in need of restoration to bring out its true beauty. Often, we look at such a process and try to determine how many new coats it will need to cover all the old stains and scratches? As Christians we too can become stained, scratched and in need of a restoration process a new spiritual coat and that’s where the beauty of God’s grace comes into our lives. It doesn’t matter how many coats we need; His Grace is endless “Grace upon Grace” that flows out of His fulness and fills us (Eph 3:19 “The love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all fulness of God”). This abundance shows the superlative favor bestowed upon man, God’s gift (Rom 6:23) of grace to cover all our stains!

Grace doesn’t free us to sin, grace frees us from sin!

HSAY … Todd

Daily Wisdom

Phl 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

Every day do something that will lead you closer to Jesus and His likeness. To help, there are two things Jesus is greatly interested in, you and everybody else. By reading this (more so His word) you’re investing in yourself, sharing it you’re investing in others. Just that simple process will draw you closer to Jesus both spiritually and in likeness (Phl 2:1-2).  Paul was thankful for the Philippians fellowship (partnership) towards the gospel (Phl 1:5). Paul knew his investment in the church of Philippi was in likeness to Christ investment in him. This created joy, not only in Paul (vs 4), but also put the church of Philippi in fellowship with Christ where our ultimate joy resides, in His presence. Jesus didn’t go around appearing good to others, he was about doing good towards others. “Whatsoever you do in word and deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” Col 3:17

We grow in Christ-likeness when we learn to lift others up through His love.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Psa 34:8 “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

It’s interesting how fast the news of a good restaurant will travel. You can be overwhelmed by recommendations before you get around to trying it.  And yet, you can go months and in most cases a year or more without the same commentators referencing anything good from their faith. Find a good steak house and no one is silent, interested in sharing a good truth and no one wants to talk. Often many Christians live physically on the strongest of meat, and when it comes to their spiritual strength they’re still dining on milk. (1 Pt 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word.”)  Prone to grow physically, but never mature at the same pace spiritually. America is a gluttonous nation, both dietary and in materialism. But we’re starving to death spiritually. Taking advantage of everything “good” the world has to offer and passive in our interest towards the “goodness” of God. If man had the same spiritual appetite for God as they did for the world, we’d be talking more about restoration than restaurants! I challenge every reader, before you recommend or give commentary on something trivial think about the last time you shared something spiritual that was more satisfying than a steak!

Satan doesn’t care if you get samples at church, as long as it doesn’t interfere with his diet for you!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Lk 9:62 “And Jesus said, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

No man will ever get to where God wants them by focusing on where they’ve been. Let go of the past and the past will let go of you. It’s like being locked in a cell and yet you’re holding the key. “Know that every saint has their past, and every sinner has their future.” Trust that God can bring peace to your past, purpose to your present and hope to your future (Jn 14:27). All we must do is trust the past to His mercy, the present to His love and the future to His providence. The only thing helpful about the PAST, is knowing in the PRESENT I don’t want a FUTURE without God controlling it. And the only purpose of the past is to give you a story that allows you to introduce Jesus to others, not for you to live in it. Paul never would’ve found his success in Jesus if he remained focused on Stephen (Acts 7:58-59). Don’t let your past be a prison, live the present in God’s promises and allow your future to be guided by faith. Make your past a place of reference, not a place of residence.

You have purpose far beyond your past, don’t spend the present plowing it back up!

HSAY… Todd  

Daily Wisdom

Pro 22:4 “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.”

In our effort to build a life that achieves great heights of virtue, doing so will be in direct correlation to the depths of our humility.  Any manner of height reached will only be as solid and secure as the depth of the foundation it’s laid upon. Augustine stated, humility is the foundation of all aspects of virtue, and a soul in which the virtue of humility does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance. Sadly, it was pride that changed angels into devils. In desiring to rise to the top in our virtue we must start by descending.  Jesus told us in (Mt 19:30) “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.” The virtues of humbleness, self-effacing and gentle are misconstrued as weakness today. But, in the life to come, the last will be first. Don’t forfeit eternal rewards for temporary benefits. Pride cause one to look down on those and that around them, and that hinders them from looking at that which is above.

Spiritual success is a man who can lay a deep foundation with the bricks life and others throw at him!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Psa 107:9 “For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”

While it comes across harsh there is a great measure of validity in stating, your hunger for God is often determined by how full you are of yourself or the world. The deepest need for man is not what clothes him, feeds him or surrounds him, it’s that which dwells within him. The temporal resources man is prone to consume only temporarily sustain, but he who longs after the “bread of life” will never hunger, and he who believes will never thirst (Jn 6:35). Don’t try t fill a heart created by God with resources created by the world. Understand it’s the soul that’s truly hungry, not the body. “You don’t have a soul, you are a soul. You have a body.” Remember Paul stated, “what things were gained to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” (Phl 3:7)  In Christ alone our hope is found, and our soul satisfied. Causing one to sing, it is well with my soul!

Don’t be more devoted to the promise of the world, than you are the promise of His word.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Pro 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

The strength of your faith lies in the object of your faith.  Faith is the language of God, while doubt talks in the language of man. Know that doubt is arrogance questioning God’s sovereignty.  Don’t be discouraged; you’re almost there. What God is giving you requires faith, patience, and endurance.  And while it doesn’t eliminate the questions, it does direct you to Him who has the answer. Show your faith and God will show His faithfulness. You’ve survived 100% of the worst that has happened to you, you’re doing great. Hold to the promises and trust the process. Your current situation is not your final destination!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Lam 3:22-24 “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”

 “Often new beginnings are disguised as painful endings.” The darkest moment of night is that moment before the dawn of a new day comes forth. I’m sure the caterpillar thought their life was looking bleak… to only begin to fly! Isaiah (43:18-19) tells us to forget the former things of old. The Lord is doing a new thing, do you not perceive it? He will make a way even in your wilderness and provide rivers in the desert. Don’t fear closing an old door to walk through a new one the Lord has opened for you.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

Lk 1:20 “And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.”

Doubt can be debilitating, ask Zacharias!  When Gabriel appeared before him in the temple speaking good tidings concerning God’s promise to deliver them a son, John the Baptist, it was Zacharias’s weak faith that worked against him. The prayer he had obviously often made shall now receive an answer of peace, “Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard.” (vs 13). But, again his doubt was debilitating.  A few thoughts to consider, if one doubts why is one praying (Jam 1:6) “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” Consider the source James the brother of Jesus who doubted his Lordship (Jn 7:5).  And second, God’s sovereignty will be fulfilled in His timing and even if it occurs at your expense to some degree. Jonah’s angst against Assyria! Maybe Zacharias’s doubt came in the passing of time due to their older age. But, consider Isaac and Rebekah though their children were delayed he didn’t approach the handmaid’s bed like his father (talking about doubt being costly)! God, in His mercy and sovereign will, can look a great way back on His promises and our prayers. Prayers made while young coming into the world may only be answered when old and going out of the world, Simeon (Lk 2).  Doubt your doubt before you doubt your faith!

Faith can move a mountain, but it’s doubt that creates them.

HSAY… Todd