When one reads the book of Proverbs, he will find the word “wise” 72 times and the word “wisdom” 50 times. Yes, the book of Proverbs was written “to know wisdom and instruction” (1:2), for “a wise man will hear and increase learning” (1:5) and “receive commands” (10:8). The wise, inspired penman pleaded, “Pay attention to my wisdom” (5:1), “Hear instruction and be wise”…

The words of the song are over 180 years old. One would think that something written that long ago could not retain its meaning in modern times. Such a conclusion would be mistaken. John R. Wreford (in 1837) wrote the hymn, “When My Love to Christ Grows Weak.” The words of that hymn are so moving. Consider this fourth verse, “There behold His agony, Suffered on the…

When the Bible says that something is “not wise,” it ought to cause us to really pay attention. In 2 Corinthians 10:12, Paul shows us that it is “not wise” to spend any effort in “measuring” ourselves or “comparing” ourselves with others. Doing so will usually make us either feel guilty or feel better. But what others do or don’t do is not our standard! Consider…

Sometimes as Christians, we may approach our Christian life like we do a grocery list or a honey-do list. At the grocery store, we mark off the things as we put them in the basket. “Got it!  Done!” We may sometimes drag our feet to do things on a honey-do list, but once they’re done, we check them off and gladly say, “Finished! Don’t have to…

Jesus. Truly, He is our perfect example in all things regarding righteous living. Consider what Peter (an eyewitness) reveals to us about the interaction of Jesus with those who mistreated Him. “When He was reviled, [Jesus] did not revile in return” (1 Pet. 2:23). Secondly, “when He suffered, He did not threaten.” Of course, you expect that out of Jesus! But, Peter’s point is that Jesus was “leaving…