Category Archives: True

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Bible, Foolishness, Romans, Scripture, True, Trustworthy, Wisdom

WISDOM FROM ABOVE

ROMANS 16:27

“to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.”

(This is our last devotional blog in Romans. What a great journey these past 433 days. I believe the Lord is leading me to begin a verse by verse study of the book of Hebrews next. Join me tomorrow as we spend the next 303 days together in this great letter from an unknown author.)

I have known some wise people in my lifetime. They were people to whom I could go for advice. Some had wisdom earned through decades of hardship. Others had book-learned wisdom about a certain topic or field. Still others just had that commonsense wisdom which can’t be taught. I try to be wise in my actions and words, but I fail sometimes. I am not alone, however. The wisest man in the world is said to have been King Solomon and look how he turned out.

The Expositor’s Greek Testament says this about the statement “to the only wise God.” It says, “this description of God suits all that has just been said about His great purpose in human history, and the hiding and revealing of it in due time.” God always uses the greatest wisdom in His decisions. Why? Because He is the “only wise God.” There is no other!  

APPLICATION

In 1 Corinthians 1:25-27, Paul talks about this wisdom of God compared to man’s. “25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and the weakness of God is stronger than mankind. 26 For consider your calling, brothers and sisters, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,” What the world says is weak, God says is strong. What they call foolish, God calls wise. A lost person cannot begin to understand that, can they?

I really love how James explains this wisdom in James 3:17. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle,  reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, free of hypocrisy.” Just look at the definition of wisdom in this verse. Does that describe your wisdom? If your wisdom derives from God, it should. But if you are like me, I have a mixed bag of wisdom. Some comes from the world. Some comes from my dad. But the best wisdom I have ever found comes from God’s word.

Psalm 119:105 is a favorite verse for many. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God’s wisdom will light your path. It will guide you as you take each step. Sometimes His wisdom may appear foolish, but we have to trust that He knows best. Remember what we are told in Isaiah 55:8-9. “8 ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD. 9 ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.’”

Thank You, Father, for the wisdom from above.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Lies, Scripture, True, Truth

GOD IS TRUE

ROMANS 3:4

“Far from it! Rather, God must prove to be true, though every person be found a liar, as it is written: ‘SO THAT YOU ARE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED.’”

Telling fibs as a child gets you in trouble. We may think it’s cute, but if we don’t correct this behavior, we will be growing up adults who lie. Telling the truth is so much easier, isn’t it? We don’t have to keep up with what we said to who. Just tell the truth. Today’s verse tells us that God is true, that He is a truth teller. Shouldn’t we follow His example.

The Greek actually reads here, “However, let God be true.” Of course, He is. Paul is saying that no matter what anyone else says, God will always be true. The verb “to be” is ginomai. Vincent says, “Gínomai means to come into being or manifestation implying motion, movement, or growth (at 2 Pet 1:4). Thus, it is used for God’s actions as emerging from eternity and becoming (showing themselves) in time (physical space).”

APPLICATION

So, what is this truth. In John 7:18 John writes, “The one who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” Because God is God, He can only speak truth. The thought of saying anything other than the truth has never and will never enter the mind of God. If He is speaking to us, you can bet He is telling us the truth.

Therein lies the problem. We don’t want the truth. The truth exposes our lies. The truth will expose our sins. Far too many people of influence have been exposed lately regarding living another life. They have hidden the truth. Can you imagine living that way, fearful any day that the truth will come out? Whether it comes out now or later, it will be known.

We can rest in the fact that God is true. Everything about Him is true. When He says He loves you, He really does. When He said He is preparing a place for His followers, He is. When He said He will come again, you can believe it’s true. Just rest in His truth, knowing He will never ever lie to you. That should comfort your heart today.

Lord, thank You for always being true. Expose my lies so I can confess those and make things right with you.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Commendabler, Excellence, Honorablre, Lovely, Pure, Right, Scripture, True

LAUNDRY LIST

PHILIPPIANS 4:8

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Have you ever heard the term “laundry list”? According to the Meriam-Webster dictionary, this term used to actually refer to a list of items taken to the laundry. I have filled those lists out before when I was traveling overseas. In the hotels there would be a form to complete, listing all your shirts, pants, socks, etc. that you wanted laundered. Now that term usually just means a long list of things.

Take for instance, Paul has listed a “laundry list” of things that we should think about. Take a look at that list. Those are thought worthy items, aren’t they? True, honorable, right, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and praiseworthy! The actual Greek word for “think about” is logizomai which, according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance is “Middle voice from logos to take an inventory, i.e. Estimate (literally or figuratively) — conclude, (ac-)count (of), + despise, esteem, impute, lay, number, reason, reckon, suppose, think (on).” I love that – to take an inventory.

APPLICATION

Before I ask you what you are taking into inventory, let’s look at what the Lord does not. In Romans 4:8, the same word is used by Paul as he quotes Psalm 32:2. “‘BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.’” The Lord does not keep a laundry list of our sins. Boy, aren’t you glad? I sure am. He would need a long, long scroll to record all of mine. Once we are washed by the blood of the Lamb, all those sins are covered. There is no more guilt. The list is shredded, burned and disappears. Hallelujah!

Now, back to your good laundry list. MacLaren calls these things listed by Paul “that company of fair guests that you may welcome into the hospitalities of your heart and mind.” Unfortunately, the world doesn’t offer too much of these. In fact, the world offers just the opposite – false, dishonorable, wrong, impure, ugly, detestable, poor quality, shameful things. We cannot depend on the world to direct our thoughts and hearts.

The only place you are going to find the things that are described by Paul is in His Word. Only God’s Word will keep my minds and hearts directed in the right way. Only God’s Word will keep you true and pure and honorable. Stop relying on your own intellect or wisdom. Let the Word show you the right laundry list for your soul.

O Lord, I don’t want to be hanging out the wrong laundry list today. Give me these things for my soul.

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