“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraides not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5
Dear Ones:
If there is one way to surely know God, it concerns the matter of wisdom. Scripture tells us that “…the meek will He (God) guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way.” (Ps. 25:9) Who is the “meek” person? It is that one who knows what he is, as a creation of God, and an object of the love of God by redemption. In knowing this, and realizing ones limitations of knowledge, and the application of that knowledge to every day life, he is that one who looks solely, and wholly to God, to receive wisdom from Him. He is also that person who lives by faith. He realizes his own need, looks to heaven for the answer, and then believes God to grant it. The truly meek person is a good receiver, for he knows that only God can truly provide true wisdom, and will do so if He can find faith in the heart. Hence, James the Apostle, writes so very simply and profoundly, that when there is that consciousness of need, consciousness of lacking wisdom, he can, in light of his limitations and even sinful nature, “…ask of God.” The matter is an individual matter, a person transaction with God. The meek man knows that the Almighty God will give him audience, if he comes in a right attitude of mind and heart. He also rests upon the promises of God, for this “good and upright” Lord, “…gives to ALL men liberally.” It is important to underline that He gives potentially to ALL men, specifically to every one who will truly come in faith. He thus desires to reveal Himself to the heart of the individual, so that that person can KNOW Him, His presence and power. It is important also to grasp that the Lord is “…merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” (Ps. 103:8) In fact, the Psalmist writes: “As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.” (Ps. 103:11) When the “meek” person comes God in the sincerity of his heart, with a whole heart, God does not push him away, or refuse him access. He does not berate the believer because of his errors, mistakes, even sins. His objective is always to save the soul, and keep on saving it daily, all through the day. It is one thing to be saved for eternity; it is quite another to know the saving power of Christ throughout the day. This access to God is an invitation to KNOW this saving strength, to know the will of God, and receive the wisdom that only comes from above. The certainty of God’s promise is so very clear: “…and it shall be given him.” Jesus confirms this fact by a very simple, and yet profound, declaration: “For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.” (Matt.7:8)
There is a wonderful paradox concerning the receiving the wisdom of God. It is this: when we are seeking His wisdom, He is already working to give it, to teach and instruct us. There is an old hymn which declares: “While you are seeking Me, I will be found.” The Psalmist writes in Psalm 81:10, “I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth WIDE, and I WILL FILL IT.” But who will believe God, and thus come to Him with mouth, or heart, wide open, believing God to indeed fill it. The measure of our consciousness of need, will determine how wide our mouths will open. The degree to which we believe God to fill them will determine how much of His wisdom we will receive to answer the need. The question then becomes: How MUCH am I willing to receive? God will give fully to the receiving, believing heart. Will He not do so today if we trust Him?
Dear Father, Give us grace to receive Thy wisdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad