This morning part of my reading was James 3. Most of us are familiar with this as the famous “tongue” chapter. Here James draws out the power of the tongue. He starts the chapter with a warning; that not many should aspire to become teachers because the teacher will be judged more strictly, and we all know the tongue is not able to be restrained. The picture is a bit foreboding. For to describe the tongue as a restless evil, full of deadly poison (verse 8) is not really all that encouraging. And the words that follow are very pointed.

9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

The contradiction that spouts forth from between our lips is not good. But there is another way that this incongruity is seen - in what we type/write. The times that we are living in seem to grow more and more vitriolic by the day. The way people “speak” on social media can be appalling. And whether I have typed it myself; I certainly have thought it and that brings culpability as well. It is disheartening to see Christians who have become so tribal and narrow in their views that anyone who does not think or say exactly what they want is fair game to be attacked. How can we curse those made in the likeness of God? This does not mean we cannot disagree, but there has to be a better way.  

Not surprisingly, James goes on to show us that better way.

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

We must turn to the wisdom that is from above. It is wisdom that is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere. Wow!!! Imagine conversation (spoken or typed) that displayed that wisdom! Where do we get that?

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; 

all those who practice it have a good understanding. 

His praise endures forever! (Psalm 111:10; cf. Proverbs 15:33) 

The fear of the Lord - the knowledge of God - that is our wisdom. But it is more than that. The wisdom of God was, and is, most fully displayed in the One who came to be our wisdom and our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). The one who sprang from the stump of Jesse whom Isaiah described like this;

2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, 

the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, 

the Spirit of counsel and might, 

the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 

3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. 

He shall not judge by what his eyes see, 

or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 

4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, 

and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; 

and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, 

and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 

5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, 

and faithfulness the belt of his loins. (Isaiah 11:2-5)

And here’s what should blow every person who is “in Christ” - it should blow your mind. You are commanded to have that mindset within you (that way of acting), and - here is the amazing part - it is yours because you are in Christ Jesus - you are united to him by grace through faith (cf. Philippians 2:1-11, especially verse 5). Ponder that. Pray for that to be more visible. And praise God for that!

Two songs this morning. The first is by Wes King (“Sticks and Stones”) and the second is by Keith and Kristyn Getty (“The Perfect Wisdom of Our God”). Enjoy.

Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment Sticks And Stones · Wes King Sticks And Stones ℗ 1991 Reunion Records Inc. Producer: Gary Chapman Producer: J...

The official video for Keith and Kristyn Getty's song "The Perfect Wisdom Of Our God" off their album "Hymns For The Christian Life." Hymns For The Christian...

Psalm 25:4,5:

4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD; 

teach me your paths. 

5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, 

for you are the God of my salvation;

for you I wait all the day long. 

This is the desire of all who are in Christ. We know our past. We know the ways in which we used to walk…the paths our feet so easily trod. We know the temptation to walk those paths again. We know how easy it would be.

This is why we need the grace of God. We need him to teach us his ways. Psalm 86:11:

11 Teach me your way, O LORD, 

that I may walk in your truth; 

unite my heart to fear your name. 

The prayer of the psalmist here is for an undivided heart. How prone our hearts are to wander. They are pulled in myriad directions each and every day…each and every moment. This is why we must keep them (our hearts) with all vigilance, because from them flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23).

Part of that keeping is knowing God’s Word and meditating upon it. We desperately need to know his Holy Word. We need God to work…to teach…to seal…to unite our hearts to fear his name. That comes through the work of the Spirit sealing the Word in our hearts. Because the temptation to wander is strong, but the Word of God is our sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), our weapon against the enemy.

Consider our Lord when he was tempted. How did he respond? By the Word of God (see Matthew 4:1-11). He knew the Word. He knows that the paths of God are steadfast love and faithfulness (Psalm 25:10). His heart is fully aligned with truth, with the way of righteousness. May the Spirit of God work that same trust, that same heart in us who are so often prone to wander. May he work it in us by leading us and teaching us the Truth. And may we love the Truth with all that we are.

Provided to YouTube by Absolute Marketing International Ltd Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing [Live] · Sovereign Grace Music · Bob Kauflin Together for the ...

It is another Monday…and another Monday under ‘stay-at-home’ orders from the governor. Not only that, but (unless something drastic brings about change) there are going to be at least three more Mondays beyond today. And often Mondays are hard enough as it is for many, but when it’s under circumstances like what we find ourselves in…it can be all the more gloomy.

This gloominess can often lead to anxiety.

Anxiety: a.) apprehensive uneasiness or nervousness usually over an impending or anticipated ill. b.) mentally distressing concern or interest. c.) a strong desire sometimes mixed with doubt, fear, or uneasiness.

And there is a weight to that on our lives. Proverbs 12:25: Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Our hearts need encouragement. We are commanded to encourage and build up one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11). We know that must include more than mere words (James 2:14-16); however, my focus today is on words. A good word can cheer the heart. A good word can bring life back to a weary soul. I think it’s obvious that the greatest word that can cheer the soul is the Word of God…the gospel that calls sinners to repent and by faith come and find rest for their weary souls (Matthew 11:28-30). It is the word that tells us our sins are forgiven and that nothing (literally nothing…not a pandemic, not distress or danger) can separate those who are ‘in Christ’ from God’s love (Romans 8:31-39).

We desperately, moment by moment, need to hear that word. And we can hear that by ourselves in God’s Word, but it is also great to hear words of encouragement from one another. Maybe today…pick up the phone and call someone. Pray for them. Or send them a text that you have prayed for them and you want to know how you can continue to pray. Drop off some fresh baked bread or cookies with a note of encouragement.

Let’s be conduits of the good word that makes the heart glad. And remember this, those in Christ, though literally all hell should break loose, it is well with our souls because Christ regarded our helpless estate and shed his own blood for our souls.

Together for the Gospel Live 2008 - Bob Kauflin Buy album here: http://sovereigngracemusic.org/Albums/Together_for_the_Gospel_Live

When peace like a river attendeth my way 
When sorrows like sea billows roll 
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say 
It is well, it is well with my soul 

It is well with my soul 
It is well with my soul 
It is well, it is well with my soul 

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come 
Let this blest assurance control 
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate 
And has shed His own blood for my soul 

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought 
My sin, not in part, but the whole 
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more 
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul 

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight 
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll 
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend 
Even so, it is well with my soul 

There appears to be light at the end of this stay-at-home tunnel. The Governor has put out a plan to restart Ohio; though there is a still a long way to go. And though it is still a long road ahead of us, once this is passed, it could be something that we simply forget about and don’t learn from (surely not right away, but we have a tendency to forget). That would be tragic in its own right.

I think about Psalm 90:12: So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Having a heart of wisdom would enable us to live our lives in light of what is good and true and beautiful. A heart of wisdom would direct us in our priorities. A heart of wisdom would help us not only know what is most important, but also see our lives reflect that knowledge.

Ephesians 5:15-21: 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 

Be very careful…pay close attention to how you walk…that is, to how you live. Be wise, not foolish. We are to seek to understand what the will of the Lord is (his general precepts for our lives that are for our good)…and Paul shows us in part. It is being filled with his Spirit, speaking the Word of the Lord, singing, giving thanks, and loving/submitting to one another because of Christ. And in an even more general way - the wisdom that we are called to is knowing who the Lord is…it is the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7; 15:33).

If we go back to Psalm 90 the first two verses are foundational:

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place 

in all generations. 

2 Before the mountains were brought forth, 

or ever you had formed the earth and the world, 

from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 

Our God is eternal and unchanging…whereas this psalm tells us how our days are numbered. And so we are to live those days in wisdom. Part of that wisdom is learning where we find our satisfaction…where we find our contentment. Look at verse 14:

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, 

that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 

Our satisfaction is in the Lord. Our satisfaction is in the steadfast love of the Lord. And we see that most clearly in our Savior. …but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8; cf. John 3:16). And when we know the nature and character of God, we can rest in him more fully and live a life of wisdom and not folly.

So Lord, teach us to number our days rightly. Here is a great song/prayer from this psalm. Lyrics can be found here - or just follow along with Psalm 90.

Provided to YouTube by TuneCore Wisdom and Grace · BiFrost Arts Lamentations: Simple Songs of Lament and Hope, Vol. 1 ℗ 2016 Gospel Song Records Released on:...

The Wednesday of Holy Week does not have a great deal recorded. Jesus continued to teach in the temple and the people continued to come to hear him. This of course continued something else - in that it further added to the distaste that the religious leaders had for Jesus. They were now in full swing plotting how to eliminate this interloper. However, they were afraid to do it in the open because they feared the people (Luke 22:2).

This is such a telling statement. It reveals so much. And it reveals the nature of the human heart. There is such a tendency in our hearts to prefer the accolades of people over the glory that comes from God and is given to God (cf. John 12:42,43). Our family has been reading through Proverbs together and the thrust of that book is to learn the fear of the Lord (Prov. 1:7). That is the wisdom that we are called to gain, to seek after, to call out for (Prov. 2:1-14).

Proverbs 29:25: The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.

Thankfully our Savior did not fall to the fear of man, but gave his life for sinners so that we who have too often feared man rather than God can find hope and redemption.

For the song for mediation today, one of my favorites in this season, “Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted.” This version by Fernando Ortega carries just the right emotion and tenor.

Holy Week, Day 4: Wednesday Wednesday, April 1, AD 33. To continue through the week, follow the link below for Thursday: https://vimeo.com/89420081 The link for Palm Sunday: vimeo.com/89013208 The link for Monday: https://vimeo.com/89117797 The link for Tuesday: https://vimeo.com/89651201

I admit that I have felt a bit listless the past day. I have been fever free now for well over 72 hours, but I lost my senses of taste and smell….and that was a symptom I didn’t really want showing up. The nature of this virus is so unknown that it’s difficult to know what to do and when. I did come out of total quarantine yesterday, but I basically moved to the basement and I’m wearing a mask around the house. My daughter today asked: “When are you going to be able to stop wearing that mask?” And my only answer was: “I don’t know.”

“I don’t know” is hard for me. I like to know things. I don’t like not knowing what to do. Maybe it’s having grown up watching G.I. Joe cartoons and the slogan “Knowing is half the battle” was drilled into my brain, but it is simply hard for me not to know and then to be able to take action in the midst of not knowing. Perhaps the Lord is teaching me something through this.

Perhaps my knowing is focused on the wrong object. Proverbs 9:10: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Or Psalm 111:10: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

Rather than seeking to know what I can’t know, the Lord is calling me to know Him better. I think of this song by Michael Card (yes, I’ve already had a song by him, but his stuff is good). It’s called “The Way of Wisdom” (video below) and there is line that says: “The way of understanding lies in not how much you know, where the pathway is a person that you’ve come to love and so, you can stop pretending that it all depends on you, for it’s not how much you love as much as how much He loves you.”

I can stop feeling like I have to know it all…I can stop pretending. What freedom! My wisdom, your wisdom, right now is to know Christ. To pursue Him. Isaiah 11:1, 2: There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

The Way of Wisdom starts out with a step of holy fear
And it makes its way alone by every good word that you hear
It has to do with passion and it has to do with pain
It has to do with One, Who has both died and rose again
Died and rose again

And the Way of Wisdom is living
The Path of Peace is forgiving
Behold the Man of Meaning
Behold, He is the Lord

The way of understanding lies in not how much you know
Where the pathway is a person that you've come to love and so
You can stop pretending that it all depends on you
For it's not how much you love as much as how much He loves you
How much He loves you

And the Way of Wisdom is living
The Path of Peace is forgiving
Behold the Man of Meaning
Behold, He is the Lord

The Way of Wisdom beckons us to find the end of fear that perfect love pursues
Wisdom did not come to simply speak the words of truth
He's the Word that makes us true

The Way of Wisdom starts out with a step of holy fear
That's only the beginning and there's much more that is clear
The path leads on to love and love is fearless in its ways
For Love Himself was not afraid
To die that we'd be saved
To die that we'd be saved

And the Way of Wisdom is living
The Path of Peace is forgiving
Behold the Man of Meaning
Behold, He is the Lord…
Behold, He is the Lord

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group The Way Of Wisdom (Proverbs) · Michael Card The Way Of Wisdom ℗ 1990 Sparrow Records Released on: 1990-01-01 Pro...