Word of Encouragement (4/15/2020)

This morning, let’s praise God for His wisdom.

God is not only omniscient; He is also infinitely wise. Unlike knowledge, wisdom is the art of properly employing one’s knowledge and choosing the best end and the best means for reaching that end (Bavinck). So, Berkhof defines God’s wisdom in this way: “that perfection of God whereby He applies His knowledge to the attainment of His ends in a way which glorifies Him most” (Berkhof, p. 69). I think we can also add, “in a way which is best for His people.” Therefore, His wisdom is shown in all things that He does:

·       In His creation (Ps. 104:24 “O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures”;

·       In His Word (Jer. 8:9 “The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?”;

·       In His Redemption (As Paul concludes his exposition on God’s work of redemption in Jesus Christ, he concludes, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways” [Rom. 11:33];

·       In His providence (Rom. 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”)

Are you ready to praise God for His wisdom? Are you willing to trust God’s wisdom for your life? Why is it hard? Isn’t because there is often quite a wide discrepancy between your wisdom and God’s wisdom? God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9). We have our own opinions about how our life should go and we tend to think that our opinions are the best. Though we dare not say it, we sometimes think we are wiser than God. If not, why would we get frustrated with and even angry at the way God is leading our lives?

I hope we can accept once for all how foolish such thinking is. How can we think that we are wiser than God when we don’t even know what is going to happen tomorrow but God declared the end from the beginning? I pray that we will be glad to trust in His wisdom so that we can patiently wait for God’s perfect wisdom to play itself out instead of casting judgment on God simply because we don’t like what is happening.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6). How can we not do this when God has already demonstrated His perfect power and wisdom in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:24)?

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