September 7, 2006

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus.

Proverbs Chapter 7 says "Say to wisdom, 'you are my sister', and call
understanding your nearest kin, that they may keep you from the immoral
woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words." (Proverbs
7:4-5).  This "seductress" is later described as "lurking at every corner" (7:12)
and as crying out for our companionship (7:14-20).

Temptation to sin (in the case of the Proverbial seductress, adultery; but I
think the concept is applicable to almost all sin) surrounds us and cries
out for us.  Wisdom and understanding are "vaccines", in a way, to keep us
safe from falling.

But wisdom and understanding don't come to us automatically.  They must be
EMBRACED by all who desire their effects.  They must be intimately embraced,
like a sister, or like a close relative.  We should PURSUE understanding and
consciously, deliberately WALK in wisdom.

Good relationships with relatives last a lifetime because they are NURTURED
throughout that lifetime.  Do you have a good relationship with any of your
relatives?  Think about that, and apply the closeness of that relationship
to the acquisition of understanding and living wisely.

So then, what is the source of this knowledge that we strive to understand
and apply practically as wisdom?  It is learning the word of our God.
"My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you.  Keep my
commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye." (7:1-2).

Like the mature, loving, wise instruction of a God-fearing father to a son,
so we should see the commands of our Lord in His word.  His fatherly love is

the position from which He offers His word.  And our response should be to
embrace His doctrine like we would our own sister or some other close relative.

Walking in such wisdom keeps you from sin.  And keeping from sin
glorifies the One who is worthy of all glory.

What place does the pursuit of the knowledge of God's word - that we
might understand it and apply is as day-to-day wisdom - have in your life?  Is
it like that close relative?  Embrace that Proverbial sister today, and nourish
that relationship for a lifetime.  You'll be blessed beyond that which
you can even imagine.

In Jesus, looking for His glorious appearing,
Pastor Lou