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The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 Difference Between Knowledge & Wisdom The terms knowledge and wisdom are closely related but aren't the same thing. Knowledge  is defined as “information gained through reasoning, experience, or association." In contrast, wisdom  is defined as “the ability to discern or judge what is good, right, and true.” It's possible and also quite common to have knowledge without wisdom, but not vice versa. A person can be highly knowledgeable about something while still lacking much wisdom. Knowledge is knowing how to operate a car; wisdom is understanding when and where to drive it. Knowledge identifies the busy street; wisdom waits patiently until it's clear to cross. It Begins with Knowledge It begins with knowledge. God desires us to know of Him and His expectations of us, so He has graciously given us His Word. To be able to trust, love, and obey God, we must first know what He commands. As believers, we know that God's supreme command in all of Scripture is to repent and trust in Christ alone for our salvation, which is the most important thing we could ever possibly know. We can't obey that command until we know that knowledge even exists. Thankfully, it’s given to us all throughout Scripture and also sent to us through Christians witnessing and preaching the gospel. So faith comes by hearing and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17) As important as that knowledge is, wisdom is just as important. Wisdom goes beyond just knowing facts about God, the Bible, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Wisdom is a gift from Above, given along with the gift of faith in Jesus. Wisdom is also generously given to us whenever we ask for it (James 1:5). The Lord grants us wisdom so we may glorify Him through applying the knowledge He’s given us. And what a benefit it is to us to walk in His wisdom! Jesus is Wisdom The Book of Proverbs is one of the most well-known books on wisdom. Proverbs 1:7 talks about both knowledge and wisdom: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 9:10 says,   The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. To fear the LORD means to reverence Him, which begins us on the path to knowledge and wisdom. Furthermore, wisdom is personified in Proverbs 1 and described as someone who we can “get to know” (Proverbs 1:20-33). Scripture says that Jesus Christ is “wisdom from God” (1 Corinth 1:30). Wisdom comes from knowing Jesus (The Holy One), as He is described as wisdom itself. Only when we come to know Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior can we begin to have true understanding and good judgment in this life, bringing about eternal life, by grace through faith. It's By His Doing The world’s way of getting wisdom is different from God’s way. The "wise of the world" gain knowledge in order to solve human problems, create human philosophies, and "get ahead" in life through human reasoning, which is all finite and holds no eternal value. But God's wisdom is not like the wisdom of this world. His knowledge and wisdom are infinite and eternal. In 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, it says the “wisdom of the wise” is frustrated by God, who grants wisdom to the “weak” or to “little children” by way of a relationship with Jesus Christ through faith. That way, “no human being can boast in the presence of God” (Corinth 1:29). We learn to be truly wise by knowing Jesus Christ, and it's all a gift; It’s by His doing.  Scripture says, “ It is by His doing that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinth 1:30). Eternal Life is a Gift Knowledge is gained over time through the diligent study of Scripture and meditating on what we gather. Wisdom acts on the knowledge we gain. Wisdom is how we apply that knowledge to our everyday lives, relationships, and circumstances. Knowledge memorizes passages of Scripture; wisdom obeys them. Knowledge learns about who Jesus is and what Jesus did for us; wisdom loves Him, obeys Him, and goes on to tell others about Him. Wisdom wants others to have wisdom. Wisdom delights in telling others the Good News it has read in the Bible about Jesus Christ: Jesus is Lord of all and Savior to all who believe in Him. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and suffered and died on the cross for our sins. In three days, He rose again from the grave, ultimately triumphing over sin, Satan, and death so that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life, joy, and peace instead. Because Scripture says so, we know we can do nothing to earn or keep our salvation. We know it's only according to His mercy (Titus 3:5-7). We know that Jesus paid our debt in full. We know that He did all the work for us. We know that eternal life is a free gift (Romans 6:23). How could knowing all that not make us want to walk in wisdom? Especially when we have been given the Holy Spirit, who is our Teacher, Helper, and Guide. There is no amount of human wisdom or effort that could ever obtain our salvation, otherwise we'd really have something to boast about! We could say, "Wow, look at how wise I was to choose eternal life by my own intellect and logical reasoning. What smart choices I make!" Or, "Look at how good and righteous I was to earn my way to Heaven." No. As believers, we know that Scripture says, For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9. May the knowledge we are given from God's Word not make us conceited but make us wise and loving so that we become more like Jesus. As believers, we know that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and eternal life is a gift. What amazing knowledge the Lord has given to us so that we may trust, love, and obey Jesus, all to His glory and all by His grace. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, 5  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved Ephesians 2:4-5 He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6  He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7  Because of His grace He made us right in His sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. Titus 3:5-7 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. James 1:17 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. 1 Corinthians 8:1

I give You thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing Your praise; I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for your steadfast love and Your faithfulness, Psalm 138:1-2 Difference Between Praise and Worship I give You thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing Your praise; I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for your steadfast love and Your faithfulness, (Psalm 138:1-2) Psalm 138 is a psalm written by David that’s full of praise and worship. All the psalms are filled with praise and worship. So what's the difference between the two? This is what I learned and like to share with you... Praise Holds Hands with Thankfulness Praise is when we joyfully recount all the wonderful works of God. Praise holds hands with thankfulness. We naturally praise God when our hearts are full of thankfulness toward Him for who He is and what He's done for us. We know that God is love and that He loved the world so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. In three days He rose again from the grave, ultimately triumphing over sin, Satan, and death. Jesus paid our debt in full on the cross, cancelling the record of charges that were against us (Col 2:14). That's why right before Jesus died, He said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). Praise Jesus! Christ alone accomplished salvation for us through His perfect life, death, and resurrection. Eternal life is a free gift. Even repentance and faith don't originate within ourselves. They too are gifts, by God's grace and choosing. We do nothing to earn Heaven. It's by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus alone that we may have eternal life and joy in Him! Now that is something to be thankful for and praise God for! What a gift it is that you and I believe in Jesus. Praise does not ask anything from us. Praise is the simple joyful speaking of God's goodness and lovingkindness from a heart of thanksgiving. Since the Lord has performed endless wonderful works, He is deserving of endless praise. Since the eternal God gave Himself for us, to save us from eternal destruction and grant us eternal life instead, He is deserving of eternal praise. May praise be on our lips for Jesus every day, to the day of eternity. Worship While praise can be an element of worship, worship goes well beyond praise. Praise comes from our hearts and is expressed in our words. Worship comes from a deeper place in our hearts. What or who we worship is expressed in our attitude, behavior, actions, how we treat others, how we spend our time, what we study, watch, and listen to, what fills our minds and conversations; simply how we live our daily lives. While praise can be given both to the Lord and to other people, worship is meant for God alone and no one else (Luke 4:8). Worship is when we forget about self and immerse ourselves in the adoration and glory of another. For the Christian, it's being immersed in Jesus. Worship is about denying self and following Jesus, being His humble servant and giving Him glory. Worship the One True God Praise is simple and easy to give; worship does not always come easy. Praise is on our lips. Worship delves into our inner being. To genuinely worship the One True God, we must first be saved by grace through faith in Jesus. We must fully surrender our lives to Him through faith and repent of worshipping any imaginary god/jesus, self, or idols; things that can so easily take root in our hearts and rule over us. To truly worship the God of Scripture, we must humble ourselves before Him, surrender every aspect of our lives to His loving Lordship, and adore Him for who He is and what He's done for us in Christ Jesus. Jesus said that the Father seeks those who will worship Him "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:25), meaning with our whole hearts and according to sound biblical doctrine. Worship is a way of life. It’s not just a random act every now and then. It's not just emotional sentiments and fuzzy feelings toward God. It's not just when we read our daily devotionals. Worshipping Jesus and giving glory to God should be in everything we do (1 Cor 10:31), from washing that bowl in the sink to sharing the Gospel with a friend. We ought to do everything to the glory of God. After all, that is the main purpose for our entire existence according to Scripture; we are to fear the Lord and obey His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Worship Holds Hands with Submission The Bible often depicts praise as being lively, joyful, and free-spirited, and God welcomes all kinds of praise from His creation. Jesus said that when people don’t praise God, even the "stones will cry out" (Luke 19:40). However, when Scripture talks about worshipping the Lord, it's a different mood than praise. We find verses like, "worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness" (Psalm 29:2), and "Come let us worship and bow down" (Psalm 95:6). Worship is often associated with acts of bowing, kneeling, and holding up our hands to Him. These outward acts (only from a heart of true faith) express our inward humility, contrition, and repentance (2 Chr 29:28; Heb 11:21; Rev 19:10). Through true worship, the Holy Spirit speaks to us, gently convicts us of our sins, and encourages us in our walk with Jesus. We grow spiritually when we worship Him. Worship helps us keep our priorities in line with Jesus’ and fix our eyes on Him as the Savior of our soul and the Lord of our life. As praise holds hands with thankfulness, worship holds hands with submission. It's impossible to worship both God and something else (Luke 4:8), both God and money (Mat 6:24), or both God and self. We can only fully worship Jesus when we have fully surrendered our lives to Him through faith; when we worship Him in spirit and in truth. True worship comes from the heart, and the Lord knows your heart. He knows who is really worshipping Him. He knows who His children are. And as His children, we know who our Father is and what He requires of us: a life fully surrendered to Him in true worship, all by His grace. May we give the Lord endless praise! All glory belongs to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. He said to them, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. Mark 8:34-35 Jesus answered, “It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only. Luke 4:8 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:3 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24 The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. Ecclesiastes 12:13

and under His wings you will find refuge; Psalm 91:4 How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light.  Psalm 36:7-9 Under His Wings The idea of taking someone “under your wing” is a common phrase we use today. When a person is by himself, learning something new, or needing guidance, an older or more experienced person might offer to take him “under his wing.” In Scripture,  under His wings  or  in the shadow of His wings  serves as a metaphor for the refuge found in God’s presence; the believer's safe haven where he's led, taught, and safeguarded by the Lord. According to Psalm 36:7-9, the one who has found refuge in the shadow of God's wings is also the one who feasts on the abundance of His house and drinks from the river of His delights. The Lord is the fountain of life to all who take refuge in Him because of His precious steadfast love. It’s in His light that we do see light; as believers, we recognize Jesus for who He truly is: God in human flesh and our Lord and Savior. Only the Believer The one who takes refuge in God is the one who is bles s ed (Psalm 34:8). This describes the believer. By grace through faith in Jesus, the believer's sins have been totally forgiven through Jesus' redeeming sacrifice on the cross. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity  (Psalm 32:1-2). Only the believer is able to see the light of the Gospel, take refuge in Jesus, and feast on the abundance of His house. Only the believer in Jesus can declare of the Lord,  “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust”  (Psalm 91:2). The psalmist goes on to say: “Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday  (Psalm 91:3–4). Only the believer can have a thousand fall at his side, ten thousand at his right hand, and it not come near him...because he has made the LORD his dwelling place, the Most High, who is his refuge (Psalm 91:7-9) Only the believer will forever dwell under His wings. Only the believer will escape death and the snare of the devil (Heb 2:14; 2 Tim 2:24), and by the blood of Jesus, only the believer is given access to enter the holy places (Heb 10:19–22). Because of Jesus' perfect life, death on the cross, and resurrection, the believer can now confidently approach God's throne of grace (Heb 4:16) at any time. Jesus Christ shed His blood for us on the cross, which opened a whole new and living way (Heb 10:20). All we have to do is believe in Him, by His grace. Since the time of people wandering in the wilderness, God's people have always sought refuge under His wings. Whenever the Israelites needed the Lord's help, they prayed,  “Hide me under the shadow of your wings”  (Psalm 17:8). Now, as believers we can pray to the Lord and seek refuge in Jesus. We can know that Jesus will always help us, especially when we ask Him for help. Have No Fear By grace through faith in Jesus, He has taken you under His wings. Jesus will give you wisdom, guide you, and protect you. As the believer, Jesus is always with you, right beside you, above you, and He lives inside you. Jesus’ presence and loving care will never leave you. You will forever dwell under His wings in the secure place of His precious, steadfast love. So, to the believer: 365 times, the Lord says to have no fear. Jesus has taken you under His wings, and He'll never let you go (John 10:28). All glory belongs to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5   My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. John 10:27-28 Psalm 91 is one of my favorite psalms.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?”“Or who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid?” For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:33-36 Lord, Your Ways are Mysterious "God never condescends to make things very plain to His creatures. He always does what is right and just; and therefore, He wants His people always to believe by faith that He only does what is right and just. But if He showed them that He did so, there would be no room for their faith. Turn your eye along the page of history, and see how mysterious God’s dealings have been. Who would conceive that Joseph sold into Egypt would be the means of redeeming a whole people from famine? Who would suppose that when an enemy would invade the land, it would be the means of bringing glory to God? Who could imagine that a harlot’s blood should mingle with the genealogy from which came the great Messiah, the King of Israel? Who could have guessed much less could have understood the mighty plan of God? Providence has always been a hidden thing. 'Deep in unfathomable mines, of never failing skill, He treasures up His bright designs, And works his sovereign will.' - Lyrics by William Cowper And yet, beloved, you and I always want to know what God is doing. There is a great war taking place somewhere on the earth. We have experienced some great disasters, and we are reading the accounts in the news and saying, “What is God doing there?” What did He do in the last war? What was the benefit of it? We see that even Napoleon was the means of doing good, for he broke down the aristocracy and made all subsequent monarchs respect the power, and the rights of the people. We see what the result was even of that dreaded hurricane, that it swept away a pestilence which would have devoured many more than the storm did. But we ask, “What is God doing with this world?” We want to know what will be the consequences. Suppose we should humble Russia, where would it end? Can Turkey be maintained as a separate kingdom? And ten thousand other questions arise. Beloved, I always think of what the prophet Isaiah tells us in 45:9, that mankind is nothing but clay pots—and as a good old friend of mine says—let them crack themselves, too, if they like. We will not interfere. If the clay pots want to smash one another, well, then they must. We pray that our country may come off the safest of them all. But we are not much concerned to know the result. We believe that war, as well as everything else, will have a beneficial tendency. We cannot see in history that this world ever went a step backwards. God is ever moving it in its orbit; and it has always progressed even when it seemed to be moving backward." - Charles H Spurgeon Excerpt from "Do Not Fear Disasters" by Charles H Spurgeon Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You for the depth of Your riches and wisdom and knowledge. I praise You for Your unsearchable judgments and inscrutable ways. I praise You for Your sovereign plan, even when it is difficult to accept or understand. All things are from You, through You, and to You. You are to be praised at all times for who You are. You are good, kind, patient, and rich in mercy, and Your plan is always a good plan. All the glory belongs to You forever. Lord, You Are in Complete Control There isn't a single disobedient molecule in the universe. Lord, You are in complete control over everything, including the uncontrollable wildfires in California. Lord, if it is Your will, I ask for You to have mercy on everyone. I ask that You calm the winds and send a heavy rain to extinguish all the fires. Please, Lord, send Your help quickly! Yet, not my will, but Your will be done, and may Your good purposes prevail. Lord, even amidst all this horror and destruction, You remain entirely in control and are perfectly just, good, and merciful...with Your plan always being a good plan. I praise You for Your sovereignty and for Your mysterious ways. Lord, You are Our Savior Lord, may these devastating fires serve as a great reminder that the only unshakeable foundation is Jesus Christ. While this world and everything in it is like sinking sand, Jesus is The Cornerstone, our Rock, our Refuge, our Ever-Present Help in trouble (Psalm 46:1), our Savior. May these fires remind us all, both rich and poor, that everything we own can be lost in an instant. That's why we all need Jesus. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, paying our debt in full, and in three days, He rose from the grave, ultimately triumphing over sin, Satan, and death. Jesus lives and reigns forever. He is eternal. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb 13:5), and He never changes (Heb 13:8). May our hope not be in this world but in the one to come. May we have the hope of Heaven, where Christ is seated. Lord, I pray for the Gospel to Be Heard What Satan meant for evil, You mean for good (Gen 50:20). May these horrible fires be a catalyst for the gospel and that many come to a saving faith, in California and across our nation. Father, for those in California who have not yet put their faith in Jesus, I ask that You send my brothers and sisters to share the Gospel with them. And I ask that You protect, strengthen, comfort, and provide for them in doing so. I ask that You prepare people's broken hearts to receive the Good News of the Gospel and respond in faith. May the loss of their earthly possessions transform into the true hope of eternal riches—riches in Christ that could never be consumed by flames, looted, or stolen. Lord, I pray for You to Have Mercy Lord, I pray for You to have mercy on the people in California. I pray for all those experiencing immense loss, grief, and devastation to their homes, neighborhoods, businesses, and towns. I pray for the safety of all the brave firefighters, first responders, and all the people of California.  If it is Your will, I pray for there to be an end in sight and for final relief to come very soon. Finally, because of these wildfires, I pray that You find Your lost sheep and lose none of them. (John 6:39) Lord Jesus, this is Your will; that all that the Father gives to You will come to You, and everyone who comes to You, You will not drive away (see John 6:37-40 below). You will gather up every one of Your sheep into Your loving arms and keep them forever, by Your saving grace. I pray for Your will to be done. All glory belongs to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I pray Amen. "The Gospel breaks hard hearts and heals broken hearts" Charles H Spurgeon The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:15-18 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.   For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.   And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.   For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:37-40 Mercy triumphs over judgment  (James 1:19).

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 Timothy 2:1 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control . 2 Timothy 1:7 True Confidence Confidence is a big topic these days. The world tells says to be confident, believe in yourself, and live boldly. Our society puts great emphasis on self-confidence and "thinking positive thoughts" about oneself. Does the Bible align with this "positive thinking" approach about self? If the Bible advocates for confidence, what or Who should we place our confidence in? For starters, the Bible tells us not to put our confidence in certain things. Scripture says, Have no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3). Paul wrote this to challenge those who believed they were acceptable to God due to their background, education, or religious zeal. God does not show favoritism (Acts 10:34), and our backgrounds and lineages hold little significance to Him. Next, Scripture says that a righteous person avoids evil, while a fool is reckless in his self-confidence (Proverbs 14:16). Essentially, believing that sin carries no consequences is an arrogant and foolish type of confidence. If we are to be confident in anything, Psalm 118:8, 9 tells us where it should be: It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.  Those who put their confidence in the government, other people, or themselves will ultimately be disappointed. On the other hand, those who put their confidence in the Lord will never be put to shame (Romans 10:11). Psalm 16 is a great example of confidence in God. David doesn't take any credit for his own righteousness, (v 2) talents, or abilities. Instead, he attributes every good thing to the Lord (v 6), and all his hopes are grounded in God's goodness and unchanging nature (v 1). Since Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), David can always walk with true confidence because his soul is eternally secure in the Lord (v 8-9), regardless of the many challenges he faces in life. He Works All Things Together... True confidence does not come from our own intelligence or abilities, nor does it come from our earthly status, finances, appearance, background, or achievements. These things are all gifts. They are given in certain measures, to certain people, at certain times, by God’s grace and for His glory, purposes, and for our benefit. Ultimately, true confidence comes from having a right relationship with God, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. When we first come to believe in Jesus, our lives take on a whole new sense of purpose, stability, focus, and confidence. Through faith, we surrender our lives to God in loving obedience, and our confidence now flows from Jesus being our Savior. Humility is key to experiencing true confidence. The biggest enemy of true confidence is pride and the focus of self. Humbly trusting the Lord dispels all pride, the fear of man, and self-doubt, defined here as  the state of uncertainty about the truth of anything . With pride being the root, all these sins become intertwined and feed off each other in a vicious cycle. When I am humble and trust in Jesus with childlike faith, I can confidently obey Him wherever He leads me. I can be confident in what He thinks of me rather than care about the opinions of others. I can be confident in knowing that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life because the Bible tells me so(John 14:6). Finally, I can be confident that Jesus knows what is best for me. He knows exactly what I need, when I need it, and in the right measure for me. I can be confident in all things because Scripture says,  God works all things together for good for those who love Him, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son,   (Romans 8:28-29). God works the good, the bad, and the ugly all together for my good. I can be confident that no matter what trials I face, rest assured, the Lord is conforming me into the image of Christ, the main goal and sum of the Christian life. As a believer, I can confidently depend on God's word, wisdom, and power. I can confidently trust His plan, even when it’s painful or I don't understand it. According to Scripture, nothing that the Lord allows to happen to me is truly bad since He works all things together for my good. That truth ought to give me great confidence in every trial that comes my way. He Who Began a Good Work in Me... Having a clear conscience also boosts my confidence, leaving me with nothing to hide or fear. I can live boldly when I turn away from sin and look to Jesus.  The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are as bold as a lion  (Proverbs 28:1). True confidence comes from loving and obeying my Lord Jesus, in which He often blesses me in my obedience and also gives me assurance of my salvation (1 John 2:3). What greater confidence is there than to know I am eternally secure in Jesus? Knowing I get to live forever should give me immense confidence in everything in life!!! Being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ  (Philippians 1:6). The Bible says that the Lord will complete in me the good work He began. Unlike myself, God always finishes what He starts. The Lord will work His divine grace in my heart to continue conforming me to the image of Jesus, and one day He will call me Home, where I will finally be like Jesus because I will see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). To know the Holy Spirit is working in my heart every day ought to give me lots of confidence in everything I do! I have the Best Helper ever! Jesus is my Savior I can be confident in my Heavenly Father’s promises to me. I can be confident in His provision, protection, and plan, namely that He loved me and chose me before the foundation of the world to be saved and set apart (See Ephesians 1:3-14). In His glorious plan of redemption, the Father sent His Son Jesus into the world to save me from my sins and gift me with eternal life, by grace through faith. I can be confident in Jesus’ perfect life and finished work on the cross through His death and resurrection. I can be confident that Jesus is my Savior. I can be confident that Jesus paid my debt for me. I can be confident that all my sins are forgiven, and I am clothed in Jesus' perfect robe of righteousness. I can be confident that eternal life is a free gift, and Jesus gave it to me. Furthermore, I can be confident knowing that Jesus never changes. He will always be with me (Matthew 28:20). He will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). He will never cast me out (John 6:37). And no one can snatch me out of His hand (John 10:28). Now that kind of confidence ought to flow from everything I do in life! True confidence comes from knowing that Jesus is my Savior. I shouldn’t ever put my confidence in myself or in the abilities God has gifted me with. Rather, I will have true confidence in Jesus, who created me, died for me, called me, saved me, keeps me, helps me, knows what's best for me, and one day will call me Home to live and reign with Him forever in perfect joy, peace, and love. True Confidence My confidence is not in myself. My confidence is this: I am saved by grace. I am in Christ. All my sins are forgiven. I have eternal life. I am confident because Jesus is changing me to become more like Him every single day. I belong not just anywhere; I belong to Jesus who is my Creator & Lord of Heaven and Earth. I am confident because Jesus is my Savior. Jesus loves me. My confidence is in Him. All glory belongs to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure (confident!) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,   nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 (emphasis added) God is within her, she will not be shaken; God will help her when morning dawns. Psalm 46:5

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (I recommend listening to this song while reading this post) Who I am Not My identity is not in the temporary. My identity is not in my career, in degrees, titles, or achievements, or in my talents and skills. My identity is not in my marital, economic, or social status. My identity is not how I look, how I talk, or how old I am. My identity is not where I’m from, where I live, what I drive, or how much stuff I own. My identity is not my personal preferences, quirks, habits, or behavior. These things are temporary. They are given to me along with the fleeting time I have on this Earth . They are given to me as gifts to be thankful for. They are given to me so that I may turn to God in faith. They are given to me to use as a good steward and to the glory of God. These things are given to me, but these things are not who I am. All these things can shift, change, or be taken away at any moment, and they are all passing away in the next 50 or 60 years at best. Who I am My identity is in the eternal.  I believe in Jesus. I am saved by grace.  I am in Christ. My identity and value are found in Jesus. Jesus is Lord of Heaven and Earth, and He is my Savior. Jesus never changes. He will never be taken away. He always has been. He always will be. Jesus is eternal. Jesus is the One and Only, “I AM.”   (John 6:35, 8:12, 10:9,11, 11:25-26, 14:6, 15:5, 8:58). Jesus will always be with me, and I will always be in Him. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8). I am not my own. I was bought with a price. ( 1 Cor 6:19-20) My identity is in my Creator, Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am in Christ. I am a believer. I am a follower and disciple of Jesus. I am a child of God. I am saved by grace. That’s who I am, and it’s only because of Jesus I am who I am. Therefore, the only thing I could ever boast in is in the Lord and His amazing grace (1 Cor 1:31). Dear Heavenly Father , I praise You for loving me and choosing me before the foundation of the world, that my name is written in Your Lamb’s Book of Life. I praise You for sending Your beloved Son Jesus to suffer and die on the cross for the multitude of my flagrant and secret sins, past, present, and future. Jesus paid my tremendous debt for me. Jesus saved me from an eternity in hell where I would’ve had to pay for my sins myself, justly. But God had mercy on me. Jesus loved me so much that He died on the cross to save me from my sins. In three days, Jesus rose again from the dead, and He valiantly triumphed over sin, Satan, and death. Oh death where is your sting? Oh death where is your victory?..But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:55-57). Jesus Christ is Lord over everything, including death itself. Jesus is the Light of the world, and whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life (John 8:12). I am eternally free and secure because I am saved by grace. I am saved by the blood of Jesus. I am in Christ. I am who I am for all eternity only because of Jesus. He is my Creator, Lord of my life, and Savior of my soul. An eternity of love, joy, peace, purpose, and new discovery awaits me because I am in Christ. I am saved by His grace alone. The best is always yet to come because I am who I am. I am in Christ. All glory belongs to my Great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. In Jesus’ name, I pray amen.   But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:30-31 The world is passing away and also its desires; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever. 2 John 5:17 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” John 8:58

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 13:14 Two Men on a Plane I'd like to share something a bit different with you this week. This is a lesson written by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron from the Online Biblical Evangelism Course at Living Waters. It's a fantastic illustration involving two men on a plane who are given parachutes. I just had to share this with you all on my blog! “The trouble with people who are not seeking for a Savior, and for salvation, is that they do not understand the nature of sin. It is the peculiar function of the Law to bring such an understanding to a man’s mind and conscience. That is why great evangelical preachers 300 years ago in the time of the Puritans, and 200 years ago in the time of Whitefield and others, always engaged in what they called a preliminary ‘Law work.’” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones Kirk Cameron's directions:"Give some deep thought to this lesson, because the essence of the entire School of Biblical Evangelism pivots on the illustration given in this chapter. It exposes the motive of the sinner and reveals the pit­falls of the modern gospel message." The Tragedy of the Modern Gospel "As I began to look at church growth records from around the country, I found to my horror that 80 to 90 percent of those making a decision for Christ were falling away from the faith. That is, modern evangelism was creating 80 to 90 of what we commonly call backsliders for every hundred decisions for Christ. For example, in 1991, a major U.S. denomination was able to obtain 294,000 decisions for Christ. Unfortunately, they could find only 14,000 in fellowship, which means they couldn’t account for 280,000 of their decisions—and this is a normal, modern evangelical result. The tragedy of modern evangelism is that, around the turn of the twentieth century, the church forsook the Law in its capacity to convert the soul and drive sinners to Christ. Modern evangelism therefore had to find another reason for sinners to respond to the gospel, and the reason it chose was the issue of “life enhancement.” The gospel degenerated into “Jesus Christ will give you peace, joy, love, fulfillment, and lasting happiness.” Something like this is usually said, “You will never find true happiness until you come to the Lord. You have a ‘God-shaped vacuum’ in your heart that only He can fill. God will heal your marriage and take away that addiction problem. He’ll get you out of financial difficulty and be your best friend.” The following anecdote will illustrate the unscriptural nature of this very popular teaching. First Man on the Plane Two men are seated on a plane. The first is given a parachute and told to put it on, as it would improve his flight. He’s a little skeptical at first, since he can’t see how wearing a parachute on a plane could possibly improve his flight. He decides to experiment and see if the claims are true. As he puts it on, he notices the weight of it upon his shoulders and he finds he has difficulty in sitting upright. However, he consoles himself with the fact he was told that the parachute would improve his flight. So he decides to give it a little time. As he waits he notices that some of the other passengers are laughing at him for wearing a parachute on a plane. He begins to feel somewhat humiliated. As they continue to point and laugh at him, he can stand it no longer. He slinks in his seat, unstraps the parachute, and throws it to the floor. Disillusionment and bitterness fill his heart, because as far as he was concerned he was told an outright lie. Second Man on the Plane The second man is given a parachute, but listen to what he is told . He’s told to put it on because at any moment he’ll be jumping 25,000 feet out of the plane. He gratefully puts the parachute on. He doesn’t notice the weight of it upon his shoulders, nor that he can’t sit upright. His mind is consumed with the thought of what would happen to him if he jumped without the parachute. Let’s now analyze the motive and the result of each passenger’s experience. The first man’s motive for putting the parachute on was solely to improve his flight. The result of his experience was that he was humiliated by the passengers, disillusioned, and somewhat embittered against those who gave him the parachute. As far as he’s concerned, it will be a long time before anyone gets one of those things on his back again. The second man put the parachute on solely to escape the jump to come. And because of his knowledge of what would happen to him if he jumped without it, he has a deep-rooted joy and peace in his heart knowing that he’s saved from sure death. This knowledge gives him the ability to withstand the mockery of the other passengers. His attitude toward those who gave him the parachute is one of heartfelt gratitude. "Jesus Will Improve Your Flight" Now listen to what the modern gospel says: “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. He’ll give you love, joy, peace, fulfillment, and lasting happiness.” In other words, Jesus will improve your flight. The sinner responds, and in an experimental fashion puts on the Savior to see if the claims are true. And what does he get? The promised temptation, tribulation, and persecution—the other “passengers” mock him. So what does he do? He takes off the Lord Jesus Christ; he’s offended for the Word’s sake; he’s disillusioned and somewhat embittered…and quite rightly so. He was promised peace, joy, love, and fulfillment, and all he got were trials and humiliation. His bitterness is directed at those who gave him the so-called “good news.” His latter end becomes worse than the first, and he’s another inoculated and bitter “backslider.” Warn Sinners About the Jump Instead of preaching that Jesus improves the flight, we should be warning sinners that they have to jump out of the plane—that it’s appointed for man to die once and then face judgment ( Hebrews 9:27 ). When a sinner understands the horrific consequences of breaking the Law of God, he will flee to the Savior, solely to escape the wrath that is to come. If we are true and faithful witnesses, that’s what we’ll be preaching —that there is wrath to come—that God “commands all men every where to repent: because he has appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness” ( Acts 17:30 , 31 ). The issue isn’t one of life enhancement, but one of righteousness. It doesn’t matter how happy a sinner is, or how much he is enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season; without the righteousness of Christ, he will perish on the day of wrath. Proverbs 11:4 says, “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivers from death.” Peace and joy are legitimate fruits of salvation, but it’s not legitimate to use these fruits as a drawing card for salvation. If we continue to do so, the sinner will respond with an impure motive, lacking repentance. Can you remember why the second passenger had joy and peace in his heart? It was because he knew that the parachute was going to save him from sure death. In the same way, as believers we have “joy and peace in believing” ( Romans 15:13 ) because we know that the righteousness of Christ is going to deliver us from the wrath to come. Flee from the Wrath to Come With that thought in mind, let’s take a close look at an incident aboard the plane. We have a brand-new flight attendant. It’s her first day. She’s carrying a tray of boiling hot coffee. She wants to leave an impression on the passengers, and she certainly does! As she’s walking down the aisle, she trips over someone’s foot and slops the hot coffee all over the lap of our second passenger. What’s his reaction as that boiling liquid hits his tender flesh? Does he say, “Man, that hurt!”? Yes, he does. But then does he rip the parachute from his shoulders, throw it to the floor, and say, “The stupid parachute!”? No; why should he? He didn’t put the parachute on for a better flight. He put it on to save him from the jump to come. If anything, the hot coffee incident causes him to cling tighter to the parachute and even look forward to the jump. If we have put on the Lord Jesus Christ for the right motive—to flee from the wrath to come—then when tribulation strikes, when the flight gets bumpy, we won’t get angry at God, and we won’t lose our joy and peace. Why should we? We didn’t come to Christ for a better lifestyle, but to flee from the wrath to come. If anything, tribulation drives the true believer closer to the Savior. Sadly, we have multitudes of professing Christians who lose their joy and peace when the flight gets bumpy. Why? They are the product of a man-centered gospel. They came lacking repentance, without which they cannot be saved." - Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron Closing Thoughts “I’m doing fine. I don’t need God.” Many people feel this way because of the modern gospel message. It says that Jesus will help their marriage, remove their drug problem, fill the emptiness in their heart, give them peace and joy, etc. In doing so, it restricts the gospel’s field of influence. If the message of the cross is for people who have bad marriages, are lonely, and have problems, then those who are happy won’t see their need for the Savior. In truth, the forgiveness of God in Jesus Christ is for people with bad marriages and people with good marriages. It is for the happy and the sad. It is for people with problems and those without problems. It is for those who are miserable in their sins, as well as those who are enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season. Those who think they are doing fine need to be confronted with a holy Law that they have violated a multitude of times. Then they will see themselves through the eyes of the Judge of the Universe and will flee to the Savior. Even if you could do far better than you are doing now, you still can’t do well enough because you don’t please God by being good ( Galatians 2:21 ), but by trusting Jesus ( John 1:12 ). Also, sincerity is not the way to heaven. What if you are sincerely wrong? (Remember  John 14:6 ?) If you are relying on your sincerity, then you are saying that because you are sincere, you are good enough on your own to be with God. To appeal to your sincerity is to appeal to pride, because you are appealing to something that is in you, and not to God, for your reason to go to heaven. You must have faith in Jesus. - Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron

Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Psalm 85:10 A Good Hug Psalm 85:10 beautifully illustrates the harmony between righteousness and peace. Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. As much as love belongs with faithfulness, so does righteousness belong with peace. When the two meet, they kiss. And where you find a real kiss, you find a good hug too. To me, I think a good hug fixes a real lot. There's something about a good hug that is just so nice and can make everything feel "all better." "Shalom" Peace goes well beyond just the absence of conflict. Peace comes through God’s righteousness, which unites both parties in love. When one Jew wishes another "Shalom," they are not simply wishing for the absence of conflict but for the fullness of God's righteousness. Shalom is to wish one’s neighbor the highest goodness. It aims to replace conflict with God's righteousness. True peacemakers don't just cease conflict but actively work to replace it with the goodness and righteousness of God. Peacemakers strive for genuine reconciliation (if possible), expressing an aggressive pursuit of good, by grace through faith in Jesus. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.  Romans 12:18 Truce Versus Peace Peace is not the absence of something but the presence of it. As a truce is the absence of conflict, peace is the presence of God's righteousness. A truce simply means putting down our weapons and refraining from shooting for a while. The world’s definition of peace is more like a temporary lull, while everyone reloads to shoot again. In reality, the world’s peace is only a truce. On the contrary, God’s peace, true peace , is when the truth is acknowledged, the matter is resolved, and the two parties come together in harmony, kissing and hugging one another. Now that's real peace! Many people believe that peace simply means ceasing fire to eliminate all conflict. However, this approach only causes tension to grow beneath the surface. What comes from a mere truce is essentially a cold war, which is still a form of conflict. By attempting to suppress conflicts in the name of peace, we might create a situation far worse than if we had allowed the conflict to play out naturally. A truce is simply an unresolved conflict that is likely to fester, blow up, or cause something chronic or even deadly to both sides. A truce is a silent, yet brewing divide. A mere truce gives us a heavy heart, but God’s peace grants us a light heart. First Pure Then Peaceable According to James, true wisdom is characterized by purity and peace. But the wisdom from above is first pure then peaceable (James 3:17). The wisdom that comes from God leads to peace only through purity. In other words, true peace cannot be pursued at the expense of God's righteousness. True peace is only achieved when people recognize and admit their own sinful ways, humbly acknowledge the truth of the matter, and earnestly seek reconciliation before God. Hebrews 12:14 emphasizes the importance of pursuing peace accompanied by holiness. Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord . Peace, holiness, purity, and righteousness are all interwoven and inseparable. They are all required for resolving conflict. Peace is a result of holiness, purity, and righteousness.  True Peacemakers Walking away from an argument or taking some space to think can be beneficial. However, when two people are fighting or arguing, the solution is not to keep them apart for long, but rather to unite them. This way they can address the issue in truth, reconcile, and hug one another to make things right, achieving real peace together and in the quietness of their own hearts. Scripture says this is what people who believe in Jesus practice; they practice peacemaking. In the Beatitudes, Jesus tells us that true believers will be characterized by peacemaking. They will exhibit a habit and pattern of peacemaking in their life for all to see. Peacemaking is evidence of being Sons of God. “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called Sons of God” (Mat 5:8). The Greatest Peace As peacemakers, the greatest peace we could ever bring to someone is sharing the Gospel with them, since faith in Jesus is peace with God (Rom 5:1), the greatest form of peace that exists. When we have peace with God, we have eternal peace in our souls. The meeting of love and faithfulness and the kissing of righteousness and peace are perfectly demonstrated in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross. By grace through faith in Jesus, we are given the ultimate peace; peace with God (Rom 5:1). We receive total forgiveness for our sins and are reconciled to God through the death of His Son (Rom 5:10). Jesus’ love and mercy offer us the gift of eternal life through His sacrifice and resurrection from the dead (Rom 10:9-11). The ultimate kiss and hug of righteousness and peace in Jesus Christ brings us reconciliation with God, gifting us with eternal peace in our souls. Jesus gives us a real good hug through His perfect righteousness that brings us perfect peace. Jesus gives the best hug ever! All glory belongs to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Therefore, having been justified through faith in Christ, we have peace with God . Romans 5:1 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.  James 3:18 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy. Proverbs 12:20 Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 3:11 Part of Devotion inspired by “Happy are the Peacemakers” by John MacArthur (I recommend listening).

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.... And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1: 18; 30-31 Ignorance Versus Wisdom " Ignorance of Scripture is the most dangerous self-inflicted wound."  – Dale Partridge. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Prov 9:10). Fear in this context means reverence and awe. Ignorance is defined as lacking the correct knowledge or proper understanding of something. Individuals who are ignorant are uninformed or unaware. Sometimes, our ignorance stems from not realizing there is something we need to know. Other times, it may be a deliberate choice to remain ignorant, known as willful ignorance. What does the Bible say about ignorance? The Lord mercifully cautions us against ignorance: "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you" (Hosea 4:6). This goes beyond having a simple lack of information; it is a deliberate refusal of the valuable knowledge God has given to us through His Word. It represents a sinful ignorance driven by choice, which is rooted in pride. While ignorance about worldly matters might be excusable and carry minimal consequences, willful ignorance regarding spiritual matters is a tragedy and carries eternal consequences. By rejecting the knowledge freely offered to us in the Scriptures, namely the saving message of the Gospel, we are ultimately rejecting God Himself, leading to our own eternal demise because of our willful ignorance. "Satan’s greatest weapon is man’s ignorance of God’s Word."  – A.W. Tozer. Wisdom stands in stark contrast to spiritual ignorance, and our primary pursuit should be seeking wisdom above all things (Prov 3:13-18). By delving into God's Word, we can exchange our ignorance for genuine wisdom and understanding. God offers wisdom to everyone and generously grants it to those who ask for it (James 1:5). The Scriptures freely provide us with all we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) and purpose. Through faith in Jesus Christ, Scripture equips us with the knowledge and wisdom necessary to lead a meaningful and abundant life that leads to eternal life. The Lord does not withhold anything we need to know for this life or the next. It's all right there for us. All we have to do is open the Scriptures for ourselves and believe what God is telling us. The Lord is Patient & Merciful God's patience on this side of eternity is evident through His long-suffering nature, granting us the valuable gift of time as part of His common grace. This time allows us to turn away from our sins, embrace Jesus as our Savior, and receive salvation, escaping eternal destruction. Despite mankind’s reluctance to seek Him in the Scriptures, the Lord generously provides us all with numerous chances, some more than others. As Paul acknowledges, God extended mercy to him even when he was acting in ignorance and unbelief (1 Tim 1:13). The Lord's patience and mercy endure, even in our deliberate ignorance, as He desires all to repent and turn to Him. He doesn’t want anyone to perish but everyone to come to a saving knowledge of the truth (2 Peter 3:9). Very sadly, many will still die in their sins due to their stubbornness and willful ignorance, and on the Day of Judgment, they won’t be able to blame anyone but themselves. But still, many will repent and turn to Jesus and be saved, all by His grace. Hallelujah! It is comforting and hopeful to know that Jesus is always available to us on this side of eternity, being long-suffering and extending His mercy and grace to us every day. However, we must not take His patience and mercy for granted. The Lord urges us to seek Him without delay, as Scripture states that today is the day of salvation; now is the favorable time. As it is written, He says that now is the day of salvation. For He says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2). Since we are uncertain of how much time we have left on this earth, we should not cling to our sins and put off salvation, as we could unexpectedly die in our sins at any moment. When confronted with the Gospel truth, we must not harden our hearts to it (Heb 3:8) but embrace it wholeheartedly. Ignoring the truth or putting off the truth deliberately (saying we will submit to it later or when we’re “ready”) will only make it harder to accept in the future. We cannot ever assume that we will have another opportunity to embrace the truth and be saved; thus, now is the right time to believe! Calling Everyone, Everywhere When Scripture commands us to listen, it presents another valuable opportunity to exchange our ignorance for wisdom. In Proverbs Chapter One, wisdom is portrayed as a woman calling out in the streets, urging everyone to seek prudence, knowledge, and wisdom. She warns about the dire consequences for those who reject her. Her message is passionate, repetitive, and crystal clear. She earnestly invites all to seek her while there is still time on Earth. She can be found in plain sight and is accessible to all those who genuinely seek her. While sinful temptations are secretive and covert, wisdom is openly available for all to find. In Proverbs 1:20-33, wisdom is personified as someone we can become acquainted with. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul explains that Jesus embodies wisdom from God. "And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption," (1 Cor 1:30). True wisdom is attained through having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, by grace through faith. Jesus is the highest, purest form of wisdom that exists. He encompasses it all: He is our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor 1:30) and the only One who offers us eternal life. Knowing Jesus intimately as our Lord and Savior is possessing genuine wisdom; the highest, purest wisdom there is! ​ The Gospel - True Wisdom The wisdom discovered in the Scriptures surpasses all the wealth in the world (Prov 3:15-17) as it directs us to Jesus Christ, the only way of salvation and our sole source of hope. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6). The Gospel is true wisdom. To those who do not believe or choose to ignore, the Gospel of Jesus Christ may seem foolish, but to believers, it is the wisdom and power of God (1 Cor 1:18-25). The message of Jesus Christ's Crucifixion and Resurrection embodies the highest wisdom there is, as the Gospel itself is the power to eternally redeem all who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ alone. (Rom 1:16) This is the Gospel, the Good News: the most important and vital message one could ever hear: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born of the Virgin Mary and took on human form as the God-man, fully man and fully God. Jesus lived a sinless life, perfectly obeying His Father's will, even unto death on a cross (Phil 2:8). He died as the perfect atonement for our sins, fulfilling the judgment and wrath of God, and ultimately conquering death. Jesus' final words before dying were, "It is finished" (John 19:30), signifying the completion of His sacrifice for the sins of all who would ever come to believe in Him. By shedding His blood on the cross for us, Jesus paid our debt in full (Eph 1:7). As believers, He wiped away all our sins (past, present, and future) by nailing them to the cross (Col 2:14). After His death and burial, Jesus rose from the grave on the third day, offering eternal life to all those who look to Him, by grace through faith. Jesus' resurrection serves as the supreme proof of His divinity, as only God could perform such a miraculous act. God's Hidden Wisdom But as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Cor 2:9).   The verse is often mistakenly thought to be about the marvels of heaven, but it actually pertains to the wisdom that God has revealed to those who believe in Jesus. Essentially, God's truth cannot be understood through sight or hearing (objective or empirical proof), nor can it be comprehended through emotions, thoughts, or human intellect (subjective or rational deductions). Divine wisdom is concealed and can only be uncovered and comprehended by those who put their faith in Jesus. This wisdom from God is often foolish and even offensive to unbelievers. That's because without the presence of the Holy Spirit within, God's wisdom cannot be fully comprehended, trusted, or cherished (1 Cor 2:14). True wisdom, given by the Holy Spirit, is exclusively possessed by those who believe in Jesus. Salvation and all its accompanying blessings (including wisdom) are entirely bestowed by grace. It’s all a gift. Neither salvation nor divine wisdom can be earned or sought after by our own human efforts. These are gifts and can only be given to us from the Lord Himself. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.  Prov 2:6. For those who have received repentance, faith, wisdom, and ultimately salvation in Jesus, it is entirely a gift without any opportunity for self-congratulation. Salvation is not by works but by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. As believers, the only One we can boast in is the Lord. Even our faith is a gift by His grace. It's only because of Him . And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Cor 1:30-31   For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,   but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Cor 1:22-23 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, Rom 1:16 Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path . Psalm 119:105 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. Prov 3:15-17 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim 3:15

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, 'Here I am.'   Isaiah 58:9 A Good Cry A good cry can feel good, but crying out to the Lord makes us feel better. So, if you want to have a really good cry, cry out to the Lord. We serve a God who hears and cares. We have a Father in Heaven who listens to His children when we cry out to Him. Unlike the gods of false religions, our God is not indifferent to His people's needs or cries for help. Jesus is attuned to our every sigh and tear. He understands all our weaknesses (Heb 4:15) and shares in the deepest depths of our grief. When we call, the Lord will answer. When we cry out to Him, He will say, “Here I am” (Isaiah 58:9). Jesus will be there to deliver us from all our troubles because He promises to always be with us. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 “Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My name. When he calls to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation” (Psalm 91:14-16). To Cry Out To cry out  is to express oneself loudly in a state of distress or desperation. To cry out is to direct our needs to the Lord. He is the Master Recipient of our cries. When we lift our voices to Him we can trust that He hears us with clarity and compassion. (See 1 Samuel 7:8; Psalm 107:6,13, 19,28). When Peter found himself sinking in the water, he cried out to Jesus for help, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him (Matthew 14:30–31). Jesus heard Peter's cry for help and immediately took hold of him. He does the same for you and me when we cry out to Him. He will come to our rescue and say, “Here I am.” Crying out doesn’t always mean expressing oneself vocally. Sometimes our cries to the Lord are silent. In times of distress when no words come out, God still hears the cries of our hearts. Just as Hannah prayed silently in distress, as “her voice was not heard” since she was “praying in her heart” (1 Samuel 1:10, 13), God was there, listening to Hannah’s unspoken pleas. In our most silent moments of angst or sorrow, when no one else can hear, Jesus always does. He hears the silent cries of our hearts loud and clear, and He says, “Here I am.” Crying out to the Lord is not just an act of desperation, but a demonstration of our faith in Jesus and total dependence on Him. Through our tears or anxieties, we not only recognize our sins, shortcomings, and failures but also our limitations and the impossibility of taking on life's struggles in our own strength. Our cries are not just a plea for our Heavenly Father to intervene on our behalf but evidence of true saving faith and confidence in His ability to do so. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons and daughters, by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!”  Romans 8:15 Two Prayed, One was Heard Scripture says that God does not listen to the prayers of unbelievers; people who are self-righteous, who pride themselves in their “goodness,” and feel no need for repentance. We know that God does not listen to sinners; but if someone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to him (John 9:31). But God always listens to the cries of a repentant sinner who recognizes his own sinfulness and pleads for forgiveness. In the parable of two men praying, one is proud while the other is humble and repentant. Jesus tells us how two prayed but only one was heard. “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:10-14    The corrupt tax collector came to God with a contrite and broken heart. He was burdened with sin and guilt and cried out to the Lord to have mercy on him. In contrast, the Pharisee, a respected religious figure in the community, prided himself on being an example of goodness and righteousness. He was blind to his own sinfulness and didn’t recognize his pitiful state like the tax collector did. Even though both men prayed to the Lord, it was only the tax collector's prayer that reached God's ears, as he was the only one who genuinely cried out to the Lord. One exalted himself and was ignored, and the other humbled himself and was received. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.  Psalm 34:15-18 Jesus Died for Me. Jesus Cares. Scripture makes it clear that self-reliance is not a quality of a true follower of Jesus; only complete dependence is. As believers, we are to never rely on our own strength. Instead, we must always turn to Jesus, especially in our trials. We must continually remind ourselves of the greatest truth and love there is: that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead, so that by grace through faith in Him, we may have eternal life! So knowing this, why wouldn’t we always want to cry out to Jesus, for everything ? Jesus solved the biggest problem we’ll ever have 2,000 years ago on a cross: our sin problem that separated us from God. Will Jesus not solve all the comparably little problems too? Of course He will! All in His perfect ways and timing. Jesus died for me. Jesus cares. Jesus is compassionate, patient, and loving toward us in all our trials, big and small. He takes pleasure in helping us when we are in need, which is always! There is never a time when we don't need Jesus, whether in a tough trial or on "easy street." The beauty in trials is that it drives us to cry out to Jesus way more than when life is going smoothly for us. Trials test our faith and produce endurance (James 1:2-3). Trials give us a precious opportunity to prove the authenticity of our faith in Jesus, which gives us assurance of our salvation. And assurance of our salvation is one of the greatest blessings from God and joys we can experience in this life! When setbacks happen and troubles arise, when we find ourselves caught in a sin cycle, when people are mean to us, when life throws a curveball or seems to fall apart, just have yourself a good cry by crying out to the Lord. Only in Him do we find our help, relief, comfort, and mercy. Whether we cry out to the Lord loudly or silently, we can trust that Jesus hears our cries. We can trust that Jesus cares. We can trust that Jesus will always say, “Here I am.” And we can trust that crying out to the Lord will always make us feel much, much better! Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.  Psalm 107:6, 13, 19, 28 “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me” Psalm 50:15 I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble. Psalm 142:1-2 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. Psalm 34:6 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 5:3