Outflow of foundational relationship based on acceptance of Jesus

The Christian community with all people of the world should come to realise that Bible is full of scriptures that address wisdom. These days we looked at it with the Book of Proverbs and the Book of Wisdom.

In the world we can find many Christians criticising others and when trinitarian Christians hear about others who do not belief Jesus is God, they get furious and “stand up high on their back legs” (we would say in Flanders)

BibleSPaoloFol188vFrontProv (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Throughout the book of James, we are reminded that faithfulness is noted by our deeds. when we look at the behaviour of many who call themselves Christian and how they react onto others who belief something different than they we cannot help it to wonder where their Christian attitude is. Looking at the words from the Old and New Testament how the people of God do have to behave, we got a total different picture. Having looked at what wisdom really is in the eyes of God we do know that we have to have a faith build on certain values which are approved by God. Wise Christians should demonstrate their wisdom and their faith in “good behaviours” and do so in the “gentleness of wisdom.”

The tongue may be a small member but it can boasts great things and can become a fire, a world of iniquity.

Jas 3:5-6 ESV So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! (6) And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

The apostle James writes:

Jas 3:13-18 ESV 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

Like in the books of the Old testament we are told that true wisdom comes from God and that the wisdom that is love from God is pure peace. The fruits of the spirit manifest themselves in peace and those who love God and act according to His Will and are righteous in

His sight are those who make peace. The others who try to hurt others and try to lighten the fire are not of God, though we may not be blinded and just be quiet, we should defend the faith and the truth.

We should give ourselves in the Hands of God Who leads the meek ones and can bring them into wisdom.

>Psa 25:8-10 ESV Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. (9) He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. (10) All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Pro 1:20-23 ESV Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; (21) at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: (22) “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? (23) If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

We only do have to be patient so that the moment can come that more deaf people shall come to hear.

Isa 29:16-24 ESV You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”? (17) Is it not yet a very little while until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest? (18) In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. (19) The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. (20) For the ruthless shall come to nothing and the scoffer cease, and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off, (21) who by a word make a man out to be an offender, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right. (22) Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: “Jacob shall no more be ashamed, no more shall his face grow pale. (23) For when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and will stand in awe of the God of Israel. (24) And those who go astray in spirit will come to understanding, and those who murmur will accept instruction.”

Psa 94:8-9 ESV Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise? (9) He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see?

Psa 12:2-4 ESV Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. (3) May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, (4) those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?”

We do have the Words of YHWH Jehovah, the Only One God Which are pure Words not trying to confuse people. We have to listen to them, to hear them and to accept them as God gives them to us, and have them to preserve them from this generation for the ages in the knowledge that the wicked will be walking all around when worthless men are exalted.

Psa 12:2-8 ESV Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. (3) May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, (4) those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?” (5) “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the LORD; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.” (6) The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. (7) You, O LORD, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever. (8) On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

Jesus lets us know:

Mat 7:24 ESV “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

We just should continue to follow the words of Jesus. We should follow his commandments and the commandments of his heavenly Father. We should not have to fear those who shout at us and call us bad names, but should fear the Most High more than them.

Psa 111:10 ESV The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

Pro 1:7 ESV The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Psa 112:1-2 ESV Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! (2) His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Ecc 12:8-14 ESV Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. (9) Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. (10) The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. (11) The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. (12) My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. (13) The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (14) For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

We should well be aware that all people are here on earth because God allows them to be here. They all may have some wisdom because it is God Who gives them that knowledge. But our wisdom is limited and shall stay just human wisdom, nothing in comparison with God’s Wisdom. though created in the image of God all who are willing to listen to God may come to receive that wisdom God has prepared for them. Godly wisdom is available to all of children of God.

In the readings from the previous days we have seen that God’s provision of wisdom for Solomon came with a condition. Solomon was required to live obediently according to God’s statutes and commandments. This was going to prove to be a real challenge for the king, in spite of his wisdom. God made Solomon wise, but Solomon was going to have to choose to be obedient.

It is no different for us. We too have to make the right choice and have to live obediently according to God’s commandments.

We as people having faith in Jesus should be careful as well. We too may not be so sure like Solomon was, thinking everything is granted and easy.

1Co 16:13-14 ESV Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. (14) Let all that you do be done in love.

Mat 26:41 ESV Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Luk 12:35-40 ESV “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, (36) and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. (37) Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. (38) If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! (39) But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. (40) You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Mat 5:7-16 ESV “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. (8) “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (9) “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (10) “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (11) “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. (12) Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (13) “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. (14) “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. (16) In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

In the world we can find many who had first placed their faith in Christ but thought they had not to do any works, not taking care any more about the things of life, not having to worry any more about temptations. They were so mistaken to believe they had no works to do any more but would be saved for ever. They overlooked all those parables of the rabbi Jesus. Oh yes they may had received the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God, and perhaps also were assured eternal life. But they forgot the warnings of Jesus and of the called one by Jesus, the Jew Saul who as blessed apostle Paul reminded them to be on the lookout against sin and to remain steadfast in their faith. He himself had felt the tricks of life and the tricks of education and of wrong teachings which made him blind at one moment even also going to fight against the followers of the Nazarene Jew Jeshua (Jesus Christ). Now he also saw how several of those who at first were attracted by the teachings of Christ, preferred to hear other teachings which looked nicer and which could have them keep to the traditional activities, like pagan feasts.

Jesus had warned all those who wanted to follow him, that it would not be easy and that it even could mean that they would have ‘wars’ in their own family and had to lose friends. The apostles saw soon after Jesus had gone how false teachings entered the community of followers of Christ. They knew that they were going to continue to face difficult days ahead, so they exhorted the community and told those who loved Jesus to stand firm and act like men. Also the apostle Paul encouraged them to remain strong, but asked them to be careful and to react always in the way Jesus would have loved it that they would act. Jesus was a man of love and peace and one who wanted his followers to take that path also.

1Co 16:13-14 ESV Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. (14) Let all that you do be done in love.

We, like the members of the communities the Jew Paul guided, should remind the gospel he preached.

1Co 15:1-5 ESV Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, (2) and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. (3) For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, (4) that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (5) and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

Those who believe the Jesus really died and that they have been saved should be thankful that God wanted to accept the ransom offer of His son. We should remember those who had the Spirit of God within them and kept truthful to the teachings of the Jew Jeshua which was all about our salvation and relation to the God of Abraham. They were assured of future life within God’s Kingdom. But in the meantime, they were going to need to live obediently, faithfully, and firmly grounded on the Word of God. They had the wisdom of God residing within them in the form of the Spirit of God, but they were still going to have to obey what He told them to do. They were going to have to live in faithful dependence upon God’s Word. We have available to us the wisdom of God in the form of the Spirit of God and the written Word of God. But all the wisdom in the world, if this Word of God is not obeyed, will never do us any good. A Bible that is read, but not applied, will never change us. A Spirit residing within us, but regularly ignored by us, will never transform us. Solomon had received a great gift from God, but it was up to him to avail himself of it. We may have been given a great gift from God, but each person has to make the choice him- or herself. Each of us must choose to be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like a man and be strong.

1Co 1:17-31 ESV For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. (18) For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (19) For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” (20) Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (21) For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. (22) For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, (23) but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, (24) but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (25) For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (26) For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. (27) But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; (28) God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, (29) so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (30) And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, (31) so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Many may laugh at those who believe in what Jesus and God said. They may be called fools but the world should know that foolishness of Elohim is wiser than men; and the weakness of Elohim is stronger than men and the Adonai is willing to be with those who are willing to give themselves to God. And yes perhaps not many wise people after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called, but that should not be a worry for us. It is given everybody to come to see how Elohim has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and the Adonai has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty.

Pastor Tim Burt writes:

I believe we all have testimonies of God’s touch and imprint upon our life that we can share with others. We are also wise when we pay attention and listen to those who like David, have learned much and experienced much. Has what you’ve experienced helped solidify your trust and faith in Him? That’s what experience is supposed to be – a teacher and confidence builder! They are to help build our faith so that we also learn to instinctively spill words of faith and trust in Him in any trying situation! So, let’s all say this together and mean it! “…As surely as the LORD lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble…”1 Kings 1:29. {The Wisdom of Godly Experience}

We may not forget the problem posed in the Garden of Eden is not yet totally solved. The enemy of God is still playing a defensive game, guarding the default.

We must know that God cannot be tempted, but Jesus was tempted many times. We find it surprising to find from a Catholic writer the words:

It is important to hold on to the humanity of Jesus, it is vital to our faith. The Risen Jesus is the point, yes, but the Risen divine Christ without the human tempted, suffering Christ misses the essential part of the point. {Temptation}

The coming days we remember that suffering of that man from Nazareth who was afraid of man and of death and who knew God could not be done anything by man, but he being a man of flesh, blood and bones had enough reasons to fear, also knowing man could bring an end to his life because unlike god he could die and land up in hell (the grave).

These days we consider the rhythm of Jesus earthly ministry.

With the job description the Father gave Him, He could have been the most frustrated man on the planet! He had such a short space of time to accomplish the Father’s will. Yet, He was never in a hurry, He stopped for individuals who needed Him, He was full of peace and patience … How did He do this? {The Measure of Success and the Rhythm of Life}

It was not like so many trinitarians wants us to believe that man would not ever be able those things Jesus did and that it was because God would have put behind His Divinity and chosen to live this life as a man filled with the Holy Spirit as an example for us to follow. This would not make any sense and God would not be able to proof anything to the adversary (Satan). Let us remind that this mind of Jesus also has to come in us. We too should get the same mind as Jesus and come into the same unity he had with his Father. This shall not make us to be Christ nor to be God, but it shall make us to be in unity with the Body of Christ and to be worthy Children of God.

Jesus is the sent one from God who gave us the good example, how to live, how to behave, and he restored the relationship with the heavenly Father and man. Jesus simply listened and obeyed whatever the Father told him.

Was He successful?

asks LaQueta Paul, who continues

In the eyes of the world and many of His followers His death looked like failure. At least for 3 days! They did not understand that He had defeated death, hell and the grave. (Rev. 1:18) Successful? Absolutely. For eternity. {The Measure of Success and the Rhythm of Life}

We can only hope more people shall come to realise what Jesus really did for mankind. He did not fake his temptation, he did not fake his death, he did not fake his resurrection, he also did not tell lies when he told the people around him that he did not know it because only God can not such things. He also did not tell a lie when he showed his wounds and said he was not a spirit, though the only One True God is Spirit.

True success in this life depends largely on our relationship with God and Christ Jesus and how much of the image of Christ is formed within us.

This is what the Father is looking for. ( Rom.8:29, 2 Cor.3:18, Gal.4:19, Rom.12:2 ) Everything that we ‘do’ here will only be an outflow of that foundational relationship. Christ in us. ( Gal.2:20, Col.1:27) {The Measure of Success and the Rhythm of Life}

Preceding articles:

Blindness in the Christian world

Those who love Jesus

Wanting to live in Christ’s city

Searching, light, fear and deliverance

Chaff and the shoot out of the stock of Jesse

Hearing words to accept

Fools despise wisdom and instruction

You shall howl in your latter end

At the end of your life

Illuminating our minds and watching out

Find also to read:

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Additional readings:

Who is Jesus? A Historical and Theological Primer on the Identity of Jesus of Nazareth (theologicalgraffiti.com)
In part one of Starting Points, I taught a historical and theological primer on the identity of Jesus of Nazareth. This included a very brief survey of historical Jesus research, a selection of non-Christian sources for the historical Jesus, a presentation of the New Testament data and historical context, and finally, a historical and theological understanding of Jesus Christ.
3 sides of the Word of God (dailymedit.com)
We are not called to speak our own words but the words of God, and we are not supposed to yield to those who speaks words from their own spirit and not from Go
The Day I Met Jesus (connywithay.wordpress.com)
At two hundred and eight pages, this paperback targets those wanting to divulge deeper into five women from the New Testament that met Jesus Christ face to face. With topics of rape, adultery, prostitution, and menstruation, it may not be appropriate for immature readers. Using mainly the New International Version of the Holy Bible, the ESV, NASB, NKJV, and NLT versions are referenced
the proverbial path of salvation (believinginchristjesus.wordpress.com)
Regarding the path of salvation, let’s look at the above passage as broken down phrase by phrase previously … please understand that without Christ Jesus the understanding and wisdom we embrace is of the world … not of God …
A Good Some Thing (foodandfaithforwomen.com)
Not only does Jesus bring good words, He is the Good Word.
Overlooking an Offense (lordiofferyoumylife.wordpress.com)
But through His Word, God gently corrected me. I sensed Him saying that I can choose to look past people’s words and not receive them with an offended heart. I discovered that I needed to LISTEN objectively and ask: What is driving their words? Do they have a valid point? Do they have a deep hurt? Or do they need something I am not giving?
Fear the Lord (takeaminute.net)
How can we truly be content? There is a difference between what we need and what we want. We may have all we need to live (that is, we have enough), but we let ourselves become anxious and discontented over what we merely want. We can choose to be content without having all that we want. The only alternative is to be “trapped by many foolish and harmful desires” that ultimately lead only to “ruin and destruction.”
Bible Journal: Proverbs 4 (unholyignorance.wordpress.com)
Wisdom is not just for philosophers: it’s important for every one of us. Wisdom was not overridden by Christ: as his followers, we must pursue it daily. Wisdom is the practical implementation of spirituality: “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”, and what follows from that spiritual beginning is the physical life of a human pursuing God every day with every relationship and every action.
We at Highway (etsop95.wordpress.com)
In many areas of the United States the Lord’s church is struggling in numbers, that is, in attendance. It appears this is happening because more people want what they want, and not what the Lord wants. With such a philosophy the Lord always loses numerically (Matt. 7:13-14), but the people lose spiritually. Nevertheless, the Lord’s church has a mission to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), giving the pure word of God which is the seed that grows in the heart of man (Luke 8:11; 1 Cor. 3:1-9).
The best of Cold Case Christianity by J Warner Wallace (compassioninpolitics.wordpress.com)
here is J Warner Wallaces list of compiled answers to the Objections from Atheism.