Years ago I joined a good friend on several Sunday afternoons debating doctrine with some Jehovah’s Witnesses. The interesting thing I gained from it was that we both used some of the same scriptures to make our differing points. I sought the Lord about it afterward because I didn’t understand how the Bible could be interpreted so differently. The response I got from Him was that we have to approach forming our doctrine with an attitude that we want to believe whatever is true even if it disagrees with what we’ve always believed. I had to decide to search out the truth (Phil 2:12), and formulate my belief system accordingly. It’s too easy to study the Word just to prove our own point or support what we already believe, and that will inevitably lead to error.
We, as Christians, can learn from the events that have become so personal to us all since Sept. 11, 2001. Those who perpetrate terror attacks in the name of religion are deceived and are acting on doctrinal error. If we are to avoid the same kind of error we need to develop a passion for the truth to the point that we will do whatever it takes to obtain it. We need to have a passion for knowing the true God and developing a true relationship with Him and be willing to change our belief system to match the truth. We need to realize that we can be passionate about what we believe, and be very wrong. We can also know the truth and have no passion. Most Christians believe the right things for the most part but have no idea why they believe it. Knowing how misguided passion can damage our own lives and the lives of those around us should serve to motivate us to develop our passion to know the truth. To know what we believe and why we believe it. Proverbs 4:7 says “Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [Therefore] get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding”.
Here are other scriptures from Proverbs that mention both wisdom and understanding.
Pr 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, Pr 2:2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, [And] apply your heart to understanding; Pr 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth [come] knowledge and understanding; Pr 3:13 ¶ Happy [is] the man [who] finds wisdom, And the man [who] gains understanding; Pr 3:19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens; Pr 4:5 Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.Pr 5:1 ¶ My son, pay attention to my wisdom; Lend your ear to my understanding, Pr 7:4 Say to wisdom, "You [are] my sister," And call understanding [your] nearest kin, Pr 8:1 ¶ Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice? Pr 8:14 Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom; I [am] understanding, I have strength. Pr 9:10 "The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One [is] understanding. Pr 10:13 ¶ Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, But a rod [is] for the back of him who is devoid of understanding. Pr 10:23 ¶ To do evil [is] like sport to a fool, But a man of understanding has wisdom. Pr 11:12 ¶ He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace. Pr 14:33 ¶ Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, But [what is] in the heart of fools is made known. Pr 16:16 ¶ How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. Pr 17:24 ¶ Wisdom [is] in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool [are] on the ends of the earth. Pr 19:8 ¶ He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. Pr 21:30 ¶ [There is] no wisdom or understanding Or counsel against the LORD. Pr 23:23 Buy the truth, and do not sell [it, Also] wisdom and instruction and understanding. Pr 24:3 ¶ Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established;(NKJV)
It would serve us well to meditate on these scriptures and memorize them so we can recall them every day of our lives. If we will dedicate ourselves to knowing and living the truth, we will find it. God will lead us to it. If we don’t we will fall into error.
As we reflect on the 9-year anniversary of the murder of over 3000 innocent people on our soil, let’s make a commitment to the truth, and the God of truth. Let’s make a commitment to fight terrorism at its core. The lie that brings people to a passion for murder and destruction can be defeated by the word of truth that brings grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
We pray for the families of all those lost on 9/11, and for our nation, still wounded after these years. We offer the healing power of Jesus Christ to those hurt directly and indirectly by terror attacks and the wars that have ensued. We offer our heartfelt appreciation for those who put themselves in harm’s way to protect and serve us and pray for their protection. Finally, we vow that we will never forget the evil that was brought upon us through the devilish lie, and that it is defeated soundly by the Word of the living God, Jehovah.
Years ago I joined a good friend on several Sunday afternoons debating doctrine with some Jehovah’s Witnesses. The interesting thing I gained from it was that we both used some of the same scriptures to make our differing points. I sought the Lord about it afterward because I didn’t understand how the Bible could be interpreted so differently. The response I got from Him was that we have to approach forming our doctrine with an attitude that we want to believe whatever is true even if it disagrees with what we’ve always believed. I had to decide to search out the truth (Phil 2:12), and formulate my belief system accordingly. It’s too easy to study the Word just to prove our own point or support what we already believe, and that will inevitably lead to error.
We, as Christians, can learn from the events that have become so personal to us all since Sept. 11, 2001. Those who perpetrate terror attacks in the name of religion are deceived and are acting on doctrinal error. If we are to avoid the same kind of error we need to develop a passion for the truth to the point that we will do whatever it takes to obtain it. We need to have a passion for knowing the true God and developing a true relationship with Him and be willing to change our belief system to match the truth. We need to realize that we can be passionate about what we believe, and be very wrong. We can also know the truth and have no passion. Most Christians believe the right things for the most part but have no idea why they believe it. Knowing how misguided passion can damage our own lives and the lives of those around us should serve to motivate us to develop our passion to know the truth. To know what we believe and why we believe it. Proverbs 4:7 says “Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [Therefore] get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding”.
Here are other scriptures from Proverbs that mention both wisdom and understanding.
Pr 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,
Pr 2:2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, [And] apply your heart to understanding;
Pr 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth [come] knowledge and understanding;
Pr 3:13 ¶ Happy [is] the man [who] finds wisdom, And the man [who] gains understanding;
Pr 3:19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens;
Pr 4:5 Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
Pr 5:1 ¶ My son, pay attention to my wisdom; Lend your ear to my understanding,
Pr 7:4 Say to wisdom, "You [are] my sister," And call understanding [your] nearest kin,
Pr 8:1 ¶ Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice?
Pr 8:14 Counsel [is] mine, and sound wisdom; I [am] understanding, I have strength.
Pr 9:10 "The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One [is] understanding.
Pr 10:13 ¶ Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, But a rod [is] for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.
Pr 10:23 ¶ To do evil [is] like sport to a fool, But a man of understanding has wisdom.
Pr 11:12 ¶ He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace.
Pr 14:33 ¶ Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, But [what is] in the heart of fools is made known.
Pr 16:16 ¶ How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
Pr 17:24 ¶ Wisdom [is] in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool [are] on the ends of the earth.
Pr 19:8 ¶ He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.
Pr 21:30 ¶ [There is] no wisdom or understanding Or counsel against the LORD.
Pr 23:23 Buy the truth, and do not sell [it, Also] wisdom and instruction and understanding.
Pr 24:3 ¶ Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established;
(NKJV)
It would serve us well to meditate on these scriptures and memorize them so we can recall them every day of our lives. If we will dedicate ourselves to knowing and living the truth, we will find it. God will lead us to it. If we don’t we will fall into error.
As we reflect on the 9-year anniversary of the murder of over 3000 innocent people on our soil, let’s make a commitment to the truth, and the God of truth. Let’s make a commitment to fight terrorism at its core. The lie that brings people to a passion for murder and destruction can be defeated by the word of truth that brings grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
We pray for the families of all those lost on 9/11, and for our nation, still wounded after these years. We offer the healing power of Jesus Christ to those hurt directly and indirectly by terror attacks and the wars that have ensued. We offer our heartfelt appreciation for those who put themselves in harm’s way to protect and serve us and pray for their protection. Finally, we vow that we will never forget the evil that was brought upon us through the devilish lie, and that it is defeated soundly by the Word of the living God, Jehovah.
