11/01/09

Dear Friend,

One of the most important parts of a Christian’s life is to possess God’s wisdom. God called us to be a wise and understanding people. We must have wisdom to understand the way of God. We must have wisdom to survive during periods of trial and the daily problems of this life. To endure to the end we must have that wisdom to see the right path to salvation. Wisdom is the power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action, based on knowledge, experience and understanding. Why do we need wisdom? God called us out of this world and the wisdom we acquired during our journey to the truth was worldly wisdom. A worldly wisdom leads to nothing. “However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.” 1 Cor 2:6

We cannot be the brand of Christian that has one foot in the world and one in the truth. We must resist the carnal nature that drags us into the things that we desire and then take the name of Christ in vain. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Col 3:16-17 God has called us to a way of life. To follow that path we must understand the goal and the right path to attain it. “Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament,

And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.” Dan 12:3

Note that one of the most important factors in wisdom is the ability to follow the soundest course of action. This is the wisdom that brings conversion. “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth  This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.  For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:13-18 It is important that we understand that it is not what we think we are, it is what God knows we are. We cannot be self-willed in our path to the Kingdom, we have to be sure we are following God’s path to salvation. Conversion is not what we get from a Church it is what we give to God in service and worship of the Creator God. Conversion is choosing the right path and following it to the end. We should grow in grace and knowledge each day. We must come closer to the image of God in being wiser and more loving with each day. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus...”  Phil 2:5

In the service of Christ,

Ronald W. Laughland
Pastor