Category Archives: Experiences With God

Wisdom of the Righteous

I was busily getting things out of the car so we could get down to the beach.  It was a gloriously warm afternoon.  We were on holidays in Spain and had been in the car all day.  We were all ready for the water.   As I was pulling bags from the car one of the kids gasped while another said, “I can’t believe he just did that!”.  I turned around to see what was causing the commotion and saw a very old-looking man walking away from a car.  My wife said, “He’s just taken the keys out of that car”.

I hadn’t seen what happened but the rest of my family did.  The owner of the car had left the windows were open.  The man was walking away from the car in a hurried manner.  He was old and used a walking stick – so even though it was clear he was trying to walk quickly he wasn’t making speedy progress.   My wife repeated what she’d seen and, with an authority that only wives can muster, resolved that something must be done.  Her brave conclusion was that I had to stop him and get the keys back.

It was all a bit surreal.  This was a small car park beside a beach.  It was in the middle of the afternoon.  I hadn’t seen the man take anything.  I just wanted to go swimming.

With my wife’s increasing determination, and my children watching to see how I would handle the situation, I knew I had to do something.  I searched my memories to see if I could remember confronting a thief who was caught in the act.  I wasn’t sure what I would say to him.  I know enough Spanish to get by on a family holiday.  Uno momento…. La quinta por favour…. Gracias….  But I hadn’t learned anything like: “Excuse me sir, but did you just take something from that car?”   It simply never occurred to me that I’d need to use such a sentence on my holiday.

Still unsure of what I would say, I made my way toward the man.  I intercepted his haltingly rapid exit and, pointing at the car, asked him (in English) if he had taken something from the car.   Muttering something in Spanish he looked from me, to the car and back to me.   I hesitated because I didn’t know what he was saying, but he just stood there looking at me.  It was clear to me he didn’t speak English but I pressed on.  Once again I pointed at the car and then to him and then back to the car while asking him if he took something from the car.  Whatever was going through his mind he seemed to know what I was saying because he took a set of keys from his pocket and handed them to me.  He continued mumbling untranslated Spanish as he turned away and resumed his hasty retreat.

My wife & I found the car’s owner and explained what had happened as we returned the keys.  On the walk to the beach we reminded our kids of how it didn’t matter that we didn’t speak the same the language because the man knew he had done something wrong.  I told them that knowledge of right and wrong is not restricted to English or Spanish – it is understood within the language of the heart.

As we spoke to them I was reminded of a recent time of prayer.  I’d been reading Luke 1.17 which speaks of the “disobedient being drawn to the wisdom of the righteous”.  I had asked God to teach me about a wisdom that would cause the disobedient to seek out the righteous.  What level of wisdom would it take for those who are disobedient to be drawn to, attracted to the righteous?  As is typical for me, I presumed I would need to tap into some higher level of wisdom or some yet unexplored level of divine creativity that would cause the disobedient to experience an “Ah-Ha” moment.

But this experience with the Spanish man and the car keys was not some mystical feat of divine engineering.  It was a simple matter of right and wrong.  God used it to teach my children.  He used it to teach me.  I hope the old man has learned a lesson too!  The bonus for me is that this was not only an answer to my prayer – but it is an illustration of how God intends for His people to display His wisdom (Eph 3.10) in such a way that those who don’t yet know him would be drawn to him (Lk 1.17).

 

 

Experience & Becoming

In my job I do a lot of driving.  I may be visiting customers or trying to gain new ones, but I will often drive to locations I’ve never been.  In recent years I’ve become a fan of Google Maps.  Not only does it give good directions (apart from mispronouncing Irish names & locations!) but the ability to switch to street view is real benefit. Being able to ‘see’ the geography around the customer’s location makes the last few minutes of a journey much easier.  Seeing a photograph of the entrance to the building before I arrive helps me know what to look for which saves time and potential hassle.

But, no matter how beneficial a photograph may be, I would be foolish to presume I know all there is to know about the geography around the location.  For starters, the photo may be several years old and the environs may have changed.  Even if it hadn’t changed, there are any number of things which could make my experience different from the perceptions I made from a photograph.

Just because I ‘see’ something doesn’t mean I understand all there is to understand about it.  Even if I know the destination from photos, maps or descriptions of others, I won’t actually ‘know’ it until I’ve experienced it for myself.

This principle is applicable to so much of life and it is especially true of our relationship with God.  Just because someone shows us a picture, or tells us a story, about God does not mean we have a full, complete, understanding of who God is.

One of the biggest challenges for Christians today is the access we have to content about God.  It is possible that we could be the most biblically educated generation in history.  That may be an overstatement but the prevalence of teachings, books, devotionals, variety of translations, on-line videos and smart phone apps means we can be exposed to as much biblical material as we desire.

Yet, I still wonder, how much do we truly know of God from our own, personal experience of Him?  How deep have we gone with him in the privacy of our own prayer closet?   How intimately do we know Holy Spirit’s voice?  How responsive are we to follow, simply because we recognise it is Him speaking?

I don’t want to be someone whose history with God is based on the stories told by someone else.  I don’t want my experience of Him to be reliant on a ‘photograph’ of a destination taking by someone else.  Nor do I want the extent of my experience in Him to be curtailed by the limits of others.  I have never been one to settle for the status-quo and I refuse to accept mediocrity in my journey with Jesus.

I will pursue His Word and the life-giving promises He’s given.  I will seek to believe, to learn and to understand all He has spoken so I can live worthy of the calling I’ve received.  I will seek the presence of His Kingdom that I might know the whole measure of His fullness within me.  I will pursue the growth of my faith through the declaration and demonstration of His love, power and wisdom.  Where my faith is lacking or my understanding falls short I will fall on the grace and mercy of the One Whom I believe.

I extend an invitation to all who share similar desires.  Let’s explore the possibilities of faith together.  Let’s ask Holy Spirit to stir up a hunger and passion for more of Him.  Let’s commit to encourage and support one another in this journey toward transformation. And let us know the One we believe so we can become all He desires us to be.

 

 

Exploring IN Christ

When I was about 8 years old my family moved house.  Along with a bigger garden the house had a full basement.  I remember the day I discovered the ‘secret room’ in the basement.  Looking back now, I don’t remember how long we’d been in the house before I discovered the secret room, but it must have been a number of months.  I remember the surprise at realising this room had always been there, I just hadn’t seen it.  There were two mains areas of the basement.  In one my parents had installed the washing machine & dryer so it was called the ‘utility room’.  Off this room was a door that led to the ‘furnace room’ where the air conditioning and water heater were kept.  This room was off-limits to us kids.

But one day, I explored.  To my surprise, on the other side of the furnace was another door.  I knew I shouldn’t be there but I couldn’t resist.  I opened the door to see a labyrinth of my grandfather’s word-working tools.  It almost a Narnia-type entrance into another world.  This is where my granddad would disappear for hours at a time.  This is the place those shelves were made, doors were repaired and picture frames were crafted.  I loved the smell of the timber, the feel of the natural materials and the concept that this is where an idea could be fashioned into reality.  This became a new hide-away for me.  My granddad knew I was exploring his ‘workshop’ but he never let on that he knew.

The discovery of this room has similarities with our current discussion of the presence and purpose of Holy Spirit.  I’ve always known He’s in me, with me and guiding me.  But, the wording of many Scriptures is leading me more deeply into rooms of the house that are yet undiscovered.

“In Christ all the fullness of God lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ” (Col 2.9f)

 “All things are yours… and you are of Christ and Christ is of God.” (1 Cor 3.22)

“When he has put everything under his feet…then the Son himself will be made subject to him [God] who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.” (1 Cor 15.28)

“…that you may be filled to the whole measure of the fullness of God.”  (Eph 3.19)

 

These statements from Paul are reminders of Jesus’ declaration in his prayer before he was crucified:

“… just as you are in me and I am in you; may they also be in us… I have given them the glory you gave me that they may be one as we are one…” (Jn 17.21-24)

There is much to discover in these verses.  Let us not be constrained by false boundaries that restrict us exploring the depth and meaning of what it means to be ‘IN Christ’ or what it means for Christ to be IN us.   Let us not fall into the temptation of resting in what is theologically familiar.  Rather, let us embrace the desire to explore the fullness of God’s promises.  Let’s unite our hearts in faith and spur one another on to pursue the depths of what it means to live IN the fullness of God.

 

Belief in the Fullness

I became a Christian in my teenage years.  I won’t tell you my age… but I now have teenagers of my own.  Even after all this time of being a ‘Believer’ there are a lot of things in the Bible that I find hard to believe.  It’s not that I have an active unbelief toward these things.  It’s more that I am simply unable to comprehend their magnitude.  As a result, they aren’t included among the first things when I describe things I believe.

Take, for instance, this statement from the Apostle Paul:  “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ…” (Colossians 2.9-10; NIV)

Even though my heart burns within me as I read this statement, the implication remains somewhat of a mystery.  It just sounds so BIG.   So unimaginable.   So unbelievable.

I am comfortable with – and even believe – the theological concept that God Himself dwells within Christ.  Hebrews 1.3 tells us that Jesus is the perfect representation of the Father.  And, in many other places, the Bible tells us that Jesus and the Father are One (see Jn 14.10).  Though I may find it difficult to explain, I have a reference point for this.

But, how could it be possible that I have fullness in Christ if, at the same time, God is fully manifesting Himself in Christ?  It feels a bit incongruous.  He’s perfectly pure and I’m…. not.  Some days when I read this scripture I find myself wanting to buy into it wholeheartedly.  But, other times, I sit uncomfortably on a train of thought that leads me to doubt.

Is this tension and lack of clarity a sign of unbelief?   I don’t think so.  Quite the opposite.  Using the analogy of the fence (see posts), I think I’m discovering a fence I didn’t realise was there.  Or, maybe more likely, I’m coming up on what I thought was a boundary only to discover it is an entry-point into a new horizon of faith.

The clue that gave it away was the fact that my heart continues to burn when I read and consider this passage.  That tells me Holy Spirit is highlighting a truth – even if it is hidden.    I have often held onto the truth that God has chosen to make known the mystery of Christ in us (Col 1.27).  But recently Holy Spirit has been highlighting that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2.3).  My heart has been lit aflame with this idea and I have been seeking these treasures with zeal.  So, I will continue pursuing the hidden treasure of what it means for me to have been given fullness in Christ.

I cannot yet articulate all I’m sensing.  Nor do I know the extent of what lies on the other side of the fence I’m dismantling, but I’m praying that I will have sufficient courage to explore the fullness of these new realms.

Boundaries of Belief

The house I lived in as a small child was on the corner of two roads.  The house was set in from the smaller road so it meant our back garden (back yard) bordered each road up to the intersection.  A fence created the necessary safety for my siblings and I to play freely in the garden.  I was very young and I don’t remember being tempted to venture beyond the fence.  But I have clear memories of my mother sternly warning us not to go outside the fence.

Fences provide a boundary.  Sometimes they keep things in.  Sometimes they keep things out.  Fences can be used to keep people, pets and property safe.  They give an indication of a property line or even a geo-political border.  Whatever way it is used, a fence is a visible, physical manifestation of an invisible line; a demarcation between two realms.  The extent to which one is allowed travel.  The limit beyond which one is unable to go.

Sometimes we create boundaries where none were intended.  More often we assume a boundary exists because someone, somewhere, implied that it does.

When I was a teenager, I remember being told that God no longer works miracles; that all miracles stopped after the time of the Apostles.  Even though this didn’t make sense to me I allowed that thought to become a fence that cut through the middle of my spiritual prairie.  I’ll never forget the season when I dismantled that fence after experiencing God’s healing power.

Similarly, I grew up in a tradition which did not practice prophecy or pursue the voice of God for practical, relevant life direction.  This, too, became a fence which corralled my yearning for the tangible presence and voice of God.  Again, it was a joyous endeavour uprooting those fence-posts after learning to hear the voice of Holy Spirit.

Those are examples of substantial life-changing lessons.  But if it was possible to have such large fences in my life for many years, is it possible that I may still have fences of which I’m not fully aware?

Recently I find myself asking, what are the small fences that still limit me from experiencing the fullness of all God has for me?  What are the beliefs that limit my relationship with the Father?  Do I have beliefs that undermine the One Whom I Believe?  Are there incorrect or miss-placed boundaries on my beliefs?

Testimony of the Witnesses

“You are my witnesses…so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.” (Is 43.10).  

Jesus tapped into this passage from Isaiah when he told his followers to be his witness (Acts 1.8) and when he commanded them to teach everyone to obey all he instructed (Mt 28.18-20).  Teaching others to obey includes sharing his goodness and demonstrating his love in such a way their eyes and ears will be opened to see and hear the goodness of God.  But, on a personal level, we will increase in our own belief, learning and understanding of who He is as we declare and demonstrate the nature of God.

Jesus lived as a witness to the heart, character and nature of the Father.  His life was a perfect representation of God (Hb 1.3).  He also said that anyone who looked at him, would see the Father (Jn 14.9).  This is the life we are called to replicate; to live as witnesses of God; to become witnesses of God.

The Hebrew word for witness contains an element of testimony or giving evidence within the definition.  The New Testament Greek word for witness also contains a legal, evidence-based meaning.  So, to be a witness, means to tell the story, to give testimony to the nature and acts of God.  As we testify, we give evidence of his character so others may believe and understand He is God.  In the process, we reaffirm and deepen our own belief – which increases our understanding – and helps us to become more like him.

There are a lot of ways the Church has embarked on this task of witnessing about God.  But, rather than attempting a programme or strategy, being a witness of God is more authentic when we know WHO we believe.  When we know Him, our testimony is an overflow of his love, mercy, goodness and kindness we’ve experienced.  Simply talking about WHAT we believe does not carry the same life-giving power.

Our role as witnesses of God is to represent Him; to reflect Him.  We can only accurately reflect him to the extent we are being transformed into His likeness (1 Cor 3.18).  Therefore, our purpose is to become transformed into His image so He lives through us (Gal 4.19).  At all times being sensitive to Holy Spirit who leads and empowers us for service until we are filled with the whole measure of the fulness of God (Eph 4.13) and, together, display the manifold wisdom of God (Eph 3.10).  Then, as witnesses who prove the wisdom of God (cf Lk 7.35) those who ‘see and hear’ will recognise the life of God through us, respond to it by applying faith and come to believe that He is God.

In the process, we increase in our understanding of WHO He is.

 

 

Belief of the Witnesses

“You are my witnesses…so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.” (Is 43.10).  

Even though Isaiah had been declaring the role of God’s chosen Servant, this statement means the role of leading out the blind and deaf (v.8) is now expanded to witnesses who believe, know and understand who God is.  Because true understanding of God only comes through belief, those who know and understand bear witness that He is God.  In fact, this passage seems to put God’s reputation into the hands of the ‘witnesses’.  He said, he has revealed, saved and proclaimed – but it is the job of the witnesses to prove He is God (Is 43.12).

I find it fascinating that the tense of these words indicates that the witnesses will know (and continue knowing), believe (and continue believing) and understand (and continue understanding) that God is the One, True God.  So, the more the witnesses act as witnesses of God, the more they grow in belief, knowing and understanding of Who God is.

Did you hear this?  How often do we delay saying or doing something because we “aren’t sure”?  How many times have we withheld from action because we are functioning from our reason rather than operating from soft-hearted belief?  This verse makes clear that when we are a witness of God we actually grow in belief, learning and understanding.

Think with me about this for a moment.  How often have you been in a place of spiritual dryness and then you got involved in conversation with someone asking about your faith.  It may have been a short chat, but simply by telling your story, recalling how God acted in your life, your spirit was elevated and the dryness you previously felt no longer held such a strong influence over your state of mind.  This is what happens as we are ‘witnesses’ of God.  By living in relationship with God, we prove who he is to others and, in doing so, increase our own belief and understanding of WHO he is.

It’s as if our hearts hear the words which contain the Life and Substance of God, recognise the nature of God and respond in faith – even if our hearts hear the story from our own mouths!  By being a witness, we grow in our belief, learning and understanding.

This is what Jesus wanted the people of his day to realise.  He wanted them to recognise that he was a witness of God.  Since they couldn’t accept his teaching, Jesus hoped they would hear the message through his miracles (Jn 10.38).  When they still didn’t get it, Jesus quoted this phrase from Isaiah, in a further attempt to help those who knew the Scriptures so they would believe, learn and understand that he was the Son of God.

Witnesses of God

Throughout the New Testament there is a consistent theme about how the message of God is both seen and heard.  Using a parable to illustrate his point, Jesus explained how the soil of the heart is what determines a person’s ability to recognise, receive and, essentially, understand the message of God.  In his explanation, he referred to a prophecy from the prophet Isaiah which declared that there would be a group of people who would have eyes but not see and have ears but not hear.

The authors of the Gospels mention this prophecy from Isaiah in their interpretation of why Jesus did the things he did (Jn 12.40) and Jesus himself referred to the prophecy (Mt 13.1-4; Lk 7.22) to explain his ministry.  For this reason, the prophecy from Isaiah deserves closer investigation.

Isaiah chapter 6 describes what is referred to as Isaiah’s call to be a prophet to the people of Israel.  The very first instruction the Lord gave to Isaiah was to tell the people:

“Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’  Make the heart of this people callous; and their ears dull, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” (Is 6.9-10).

We talked about possible interpretations and implications for such a prophetic declaration in a recent discussion (see post).  The purpose of such a declaration was not so God would keep people from coming to him, rather it was an acknowledgement that their refusal to believe would lead to a further hardening of their hearts.  But this prophecy was not creating, forming or announcing a permanent state of being for those it described.

The ministry of Isaiah spanned a number of years and, as he faithfully declared the message of God to the people, his message changed.  Toward the end of his life he began to prophecy of God’s coming Servant who would be a “light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness” (Is 42.7).  This was substantial because it not only spoke about opening the eyes of the blind – thereby promising that the symptoms of a hard heart would be reversed through the ministry of God’s servant – but it also spoke of God’s message being made available to those outside the nation of Israel.  The remainder of chapter 42, concentrates on God’s restoration of his people.  In particular, 42.18-25, make clear that God wants to open the eyes and ears of those who have closed them.

In chapter 43, after instructing the Servant to “lead out those who have eyes but are blind and have ears but can’t hear” (43.8), God says something that will (hopefully) sound familiar.  “You are my witnesses and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he” (43.10).

Did you hear it?!  This is the phrase Jesus used in John 10.38 when he said, “Even if you don’t believe me, believe the miracles so you may learn and understand that I am one with the father [ie. I am he].”  Jesus was declaring the prophetic statement about himself in hopes those who had eyes to see would actually see it – even if they hadn’t heard it.

But, equally substantial, and exciting to me, is that Isaiah introduced the description of how we go through a process of understanding.   Namely, that we come to know (learn) from a posture of belief which enables us to understand who he is.

These two passages are the only Scripture references I have found in which this phrase is used.  The significance of this singular reference is that Jesus fully intended his statement to be directly linked to Isaiah’s prophetic declaration – it was not a casual reference.

Biblical scholars, when they translate and interpret the Scriptures use a principle they call the Law of First Mention.  Basically, this means when a word or phrase is used for the first time, the meaning or intent of that word is largely defined by the context of its first use.  All subsequent uses of the word or phrase are reliant upon the meaning derived by the initial use.  The repeated uses will often add depth or enhance the original meaning, but they will not fundamentally change the meaning from the first mention.

Based on this law of first mention, the process of believing so we learn and understand derives a significant meaning and purpose from the context of the Isaiah passage.

Within the context of Isaiah, we learn that although God had allowed people’s hearts to become hard so they had eyes but could not see and ears but could not hear, his intention was to send his witnesses who would lead these people out of the condition of their own making.  In doing so, the witnesses, as well as the people, will all grow in belief, learning and understanding of who God is.

This will be the focus of our next discussion.

Development of Belief

“…even if you do not believe me, believe the evidence of the miracles, that you may learn and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father” (Jn 10.38).

When Jesus made this statement, he was speaking to the religious leaders who, in their opposition to him, refused to consider the possibility that their perspective may not be the only explanation for things.  They had heard what Jesus taught but their hardness of heart meant they were unable to recognise the voice of God or understand His message.  Jesus, in his mercy, did not write them off but gave them another opportunity to hear his voice.  This time, he displayed the reality of his love by actions that were visible.   Through both circumstances, Jesus expected people to be able to recognise the voice of the God and respond by applying faith to what they heard (see post).

Responding in belief initiates a process that enables us to learn more about God’s nature and what life in his Kingdom is like.  As we submit ourselves to getting to know the One we believe, we grow more into His likeness.  One way to illustrate this process of learning is to identify the steps from belief to wisdom.

Belief / Faith

Belief is the foundation, the centre, of this process.  Throughout our discussions, we have spoken of how the Father initiates faith within us through His word.  As we recognise his word, and respond to it, we apply faith which ignites the seed of life carried within his word.

  • Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom 10.17; Jn 5.24)
  • It is with the heart that we believe (Rom 10.10)

While belief and faith are not the same thing, they are extremely similar.   The two English words share the same Greek root words which are translated differently according to the context.  So, for the purpose of our discussion and this illustration I have combined them.

Obey:  Belief leads to obedience.

Obedience is the standard of one who is in relationship with God.  Jesus demonstrated a life of perfect obedience to the Father (Jn 5.19) and expects the same type of humble obedience from his followers (Mt 28.20).

  • If you love me, you will obey my teaching. (Jn 14.23)
  • Anyone who comes after me must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me (Lk 9.23).  

Trust:  Obedience leads to trust.

As we walk in obedience, we learn to trust God.  A lifestyle of obedience in the different areas of our life enables us to trust that God is trustworthy, reliable and faithful.  For example, as we are obedient with our use of money, we learn to trust God as the One from whom all resources come.  Obeying God’s instruction to forgive others as we have been forgiven, we learn to trust God as the One from whom justice and grace come.  In addition, we have opportunity to more fully embrace humility and mercy.

Trusting God does not mean we don’t have questions about what He may ask of us.  Trust is displayed as we maintain a soft-hearted, belief in Him even when we don’t understand why circumstances are the way they are.

On this point, consider two people who questioned what God asked of them through the angel Gabriel.  Mary and Zechariah each asked a question about what the angel announced to them – and the words used in their questions are very similar.  Yet the angel knew that Mary’s question, “How can this be?”, came from a soft-hearted belief that was willing to trust (Lk 1.34,38).  On the other hand, Zechariah’s question, “How can I be sure of this?”, came from an unbelief that had crept into his heart (Lk 1.18,20).

 

Understand:  Trust leads to Understanding.

As we trust God throughout the various circumstances and challenges of life, we learn more about God’s nature which leads us to a deepening understanding of WHO He is.   Often, we want to leap-frog over obedience and trust to get quickly to a place of understanding God.  But that is not how belief and relationship works.

We do not believe because we understand.  We understand because we believe. Understanding comes through a process that is lived alongside the One Whom we believe.  We cannot understand the depths of Who God is unless we have learned obedience and trust.  Any attempts to bypass these areas will only give an incomplete, dichotomised portrayal of God.

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead I have called you friends, for everything I have learned from my Father I have made known to you (Jn 15.15).

In some church contexts, it may be possible to confuse the effects of a Christian sub-culture with a personal trust and/or understanding of God.  However, we must be careful not to presume that a lifestyle of Christian principles equates to an authentic, personal relationship with God, even if the principles are based on biblical standards.  A relationship with God means we know WHO we believe rather than relying on what we believe.

 

Wisdom:  Understanding leads to Wisdom.

One of the outcomes of a life based on belief is that we will grow into a people who display God’s wisdom (Eph 3.10).  As in the natural realm, wisdom can only be gained through process, experience and a humble willingness to continue learning (Pr 11.2, 13.10).  But the first step toward wisdom is through relationship with God (Ps 111.10).  So, a lifestyle of soft-hearted belief along with an active relationship based on obedience and trust will help us grow into wisdom.

Wisdom is much more than a personal characteristic or some type of achievement acknowledged by others.  Wisdom is a description of Jesus himself, who has become the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1.30).  Since we are on a journey toward becoming like Christ we, too, should expect that we will grow into wisdom which will, in turn, deepen our relationship with God (Eph 1.17).

Do you see the connection with the ever-increasing nature of this?  But, so you don’t think I am aiming for some lofty, out-of-touch philosophy; the wisdom I’m speaking about has a practical impact on those around us (James 3.13-18).  In keeping with the process of soft-hearted belief, the life of wisdom bears witness to the life, message and ministry of Jesus.

 

Believe that you may learn and understand.  Life with God is a consistent process of growth.  As we increase in faith and expand our belief through obedience, trust, understanding to wisdom we learn to say, along with the apostle Paul, “…I know the one whom I have believed” (2 Tim 1.12).

 

 

Wisdom’s Children

Have you ever noticed how Jesus can be talking about something and then, he makes a statement that appears to come completely out of the blue?  Often, this type of statement is a concluding comment after he’s been teaching about something – but, the concluding comment seems to have no relevance to the point he was just making.  Obviously, Jesus understood how to the two seemingly divergent points were connected – even if they appear confusing to us at first glance.  I’ve made a practice of studying these comments because, I really want to learn how to make the connection between points that Jesus made.

At the end of his explanation to the people about John the Baptist, Jesus made one of those concluding comments that for a long time seemed out of place to me.  After speaking about John the Baptist and affirming that the people acknowledged God’s way was right, Jesus finished his teaching with the seemingly unrelated comment, “Wisdom is proven right by all her children” (Lk 7.35).

But, as I look at this chapter in the context of our current discussion, it has become much clearer.

The Greek word used in phrase for ‘proven right’ can also be translated as ‘exhibited as right’, ‘declared as just’.  The intention of the words is that the children of God are able to do more than simply identify or recognise the wisdom of God.  They are able to declare its justice, to prove or exhibit it’s right-ness.  This is similar to the wording used in Rom 12.2, when Paul says the believer who is being transformed by the renewing of their mind, is able to ‘prove’ the perfect will God.  The children of God are able not only to recognise the character of God through his words and his actions; but they are also able to prove, approve, discern his will through the wisdom they have gained through relationship with him.

Wisdom about God, comes through our experiences with God.  Encountering him.  Engaging with him.  Learning his ways so we can know him.  This level of understanding cannot be arrived at through theory or principles.  On the contrary, this understanding is an outcome of a relationship with the One who is believed.  Only in an active, ongoing, relationship are we able to deepen our understanding of God – his character, his nature and his heart.  And this learning for understanding is based on belief in him.

 

Jesus’ seemingly out-of-place statement is actually connecting the effects of John’s ministry with what the angel Gabriel said about John when he announced his upcoming birth.  He said that John will “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people for the Lord” (Lk 1.17).

The statement about turning of the fathers’ hearts to the children points to an effect of earthly, parental relationships, but I also think it refers to the spiritual fathers & mothers who will nurture their spiritual children.  Subsequently, the children of God will display an inherent wisdom that is demonstrated in their righteous priorities, lifestyle, decision-making and pursuit of the Kingdom (cf Eph 3.10).  The result is that those separated from God (the disobedient) will hear and see the wisdom and love of God through those who live in relationship with Him. Through their humble recognition of God’s wisdom, those apart from God will recognise the voice of God (Believe), respond to the invitation to join His family and become (Learn) a people being made ready for the Lord (Understand).

Do you see how this comes full circle?   The children of God naturally display the wisdom and righteousness of God, giving those who do not yet know God an opportunity to encounter Him.  In their humility and hunger for what is right and just, people are able to recognise and respond to the wisdom and love of God.  But this depends on those who are in relationship with Him to be a witness of who God is through what they say and what they do.