Daily Wisdom

Acts 28:11-16… (vs 14 “… we found brethren; (vs 15) “… thanked God and took courage.”)  

Though Paul’s travels to Rome were treacherous and troublesome, there was and can be strength amidst the storm. Paul, like Christ, often found himself standing alone (2 Ti 4:16 “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me…”). Yet, just prior to his arrival in Rome Paul found fellow believers who brought him encouragement. Like Abraham in (Gen 18) you never know when strangers (Heb 13:2) will stroll into your path to strengthen you in a storm. In the seasons of life when storms don’t rage are you a spiritual greeter of encouragement? These strangers contributed to the gospel by strengthening Paul to continue in the Lord’s work.

Mat 25:35-36 “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Mt 25:40 “… Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

Christ didn’t die because man was worth dying for, He died to make them worth it. Make sure your heart beats for what Jesus heart beats for – people… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

1Cor 1:10a; 13a “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; 13 Is Christ divided?

The most destructive force in any body of work is disunity. And there was no body more fractured and separated than the Triune Godhead when Christ stepped out of eternity into the time. Separating Himself from the Father and Holy Spirit for the first time in all of eternity. But this worked beautifully because they were in unity in their purpose. The Triune Godhead sacrificed what had been eternally bonded for the good of man coming to know their need of the Saviour, and though while separated they were never dis-unified in the greater good for man and Heaven. When man becomes possessive of the work of God, the work will become personal and not purposeful (Acts 26:26) and divided in Christ’s sacrifice for it.  

God never called man to make churches, He called them to make disciples (Mt 28:19) … HSAY  

Daily Wisdom

Rom 9:2 “That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren…” 

Can you comprehend such an extraordinary love for others to know Christ that you would forgo your own salvation for another’s good? While such a statement is filled great conjuncture, only Christ can save, Paul’s love for them and the gospel was compelling. Are we willing to sacrifice self and earthly resources for another to come to know the goodness of Christ?

Be cautious in hoarding what you you’ve been gifted (Rom 6:23) at the expense of others not gaining what you’ve been given. HSAY

Daily Wisdom

Rom 8:15 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

Let’s be ever mindful of our eternal inheritance and know that fear is a liar!  Not called to be debtors to the flesh (vs 13), but sons of God empowered with authority by the Spirit of God (vs 14). And while the glory and fullness of our inheritance is beyond the grasp of our full understanding, know in every difficulty we face, and every waiting place, we’re given the chance to trust in the things unseen (Heb 11:1) and patiently hold to the promise of His abundant blessings.  

Fear corrodes our confidence in Christ goodness by hiding our inheritance… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

1Pt 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” 

Fall is upon us and another change of the season and with it another year of growing older, but the question is are we growing up? Are we growing closer to God, are we growing in our Christ-likeness?  While life continually evolves many are stagnant in their salvation and sanctification. We visually change our appearance like the seasons, by choice or nature, but our spirit remains stuck in spiritual adolescence and immaturity. We naturally grow in our physical diet, but to grow in our spiritual diet requires an appetite for the God’s Word!

Be careful, it’s easy to grow up in church and still not grow up in Christ… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

Isa 54:17 “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” 

Isaiah speaks to God’s covenant of peace for His children. Man’s attack with weapons and words will not prosper long. The righteousness of God will deliver the just man from both the physical and spiritual attacks. Man’s greatest form of attack is judgement from the tongue, as if they possess a dominion or spiritual authority over another and falsely accuse or misrepresent (Ezr 4:12). Do well and God will do well by you (1 Pt 2:15 “For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”)

No danger can come so near that God is not nearer still… HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

2Co 2:14 “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”

Paul acknowledges God’s opening of doors in (vs 12), causing him to give thanks unto God which brings victory in Christ. Are our victories self-edifying our profitable for others as well? Notice Paul’s conviction: (2Co 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish.) Does our life offer a sweetness that is palatable for others to grow in? God, give us an ability for our life to be a pleasant, sweet victory for others to partake.

Our life should embody victory in Christ, not an occasional lucky coincidence… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

2 Cor 10:4 “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 destroy arguments… take every thought captive to obey Christ”

Ever heard the statement, don’t bring a knife to a gun fight? Like Paul, we’re merely weak humans, but we mustn’t rely on human plans and methods to win our battles. The Lord’s arsenal (Eph 6:13-18) is mighty to the pulling down of strongholds against us and our faith. Our weaponry is empowered by the Holy Spirit through the gospel which neutralizes carnal attacks.

David didn’t use the weapons of man to defeat Goliath, his arsenal was empowered by God through his faith… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

1Pe 4:8 “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” 

One’s goodness or sin will never be any better worse than another’s. Because man at best is just man and a fallen creation that offers no righteousness within ourselves (Rom 3:10). But when hearts unit in Christ and politics, selfish purpose & agendas are set aside, beautiful things can happen. All the madness will stop at Heaven’s gates. There will be no more independent affiliations, political parties, social platforms or man’s agendas.  The only thing going on will be a hallelujah party where we will “all” be worshiping One Jesus as one body.

The more we learn to love Jesus the more we learn to love others, as He has loved us (1 Jn 4:19)… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

1 Pt 1:9 “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”

Paul encourages us to live above our circumstances. Knowing our inheritance is eternal (vs 4), and enduring our trials are more valuable than gold (vs 7). God wants us to live in a “lively hope” (4:6) and grow in our salvation (2:2). Daily we’re receiving the salvation promised us in Jesus. With the hope of our eternal future promised our faith should prosperous in it. You may feel you’re on the loosing side in this world, but you’ve already won in Christ. Victory is yours!

I’m far from what I once was and ever closer to what Jesus has promised… HSAY  

Daily Wisdom

Psa 31:19 “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee…”

God is good … extreme are the counsels of it! rich are the treasures of it! and extensive are the imparting of it! What man loads with slander God loads with blessings. Such blessings of goodness are laid up for those who rely upon His grace and promise (1 Pt 1:4 “To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you”). God’s goodness spills forth in this world as well, just as one would benefit today from a father’s future inheritance.

We don’t have the capacity to exaggerate God’s goodness, only to doubt it… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

Rom 14:21 "It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble."

The greatest exercise of our rights is doing what is right for the benefit of another. This thought changes everything when I when ask myself: How can I live in a way that helps to encourage others in Jesus? Don't be afraid of sacrifice unless your sacrifice is self-serving rather than sanctifying.

sacrificing self for the good of others; no greater way to show the love of the suffering servant (Isa 53) ... HSAY