Proverbs: Wisdom is Keeping our Faith

Morning wakes me and I pray before I rise from my bed.  Prayers for my loved ones and prayers for those who chose not to believe.  Believing and receiving God is important to our faith.  A faith that knows that God is always there.  Life isn't perfect, and we should not expect perfection in life.  As we live in this broken world full of the rages of evil and death, we need our faith to make it through the day.  Our faith should lead us to love as Jesus loved, even our enemies and those who seek to harm us.  I was reminded of this again as I watched "Free Burma Rangers."  With never ending civil wars, Christians lose everything, yet they show love to their enemies.  In all the suffering, they keep their faith.  So, as I read Proverbs 2, I think of King David and Psalms 51.  

     David had sinned with his lust for a married woman.  He not only lust for her, but he arranged the death of her husband for his benefit of having Bathsheba.  He took pleasure in taking Bathsheba, but there were consequences to come.  A baby was born and died.  When David's sin was opened to him by the prophet, he went into a rage wanting to punish the sinner.  The sinner was David.  When he realized his sin, he repented with a broken and contrite heart.  He never repeated this sin and lived a changed life.  However, the scars were still there.  (from II Samuel 11 & 12)

"Cast me not away from your presence: and take not your holy spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with your free spirit.  Then will I teach transgressors your ways; and sinners shall be converted unto you." (David's prayer Psalms 51:11-13 NKJ)

     Later, David and Bathsheba had a son, Solomon, who grew into a man of faith.  When he became king, he asked for wisdom. (I Kings 3) God gave him wisdom.  Do we ask for wisdom?  In Proverbs 2, God is calling for you and me to receive his words and hide his commandments within our hearts.  Listen to God's word and apply your heart to understanding God's Word.  Seek and search for wisdom as it is a treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  He gives sound wisdom to the righteous and holds them up.  (Proverbs 2:3-7)

When you open your heart to God and his knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you and understanding will keep you.  You will be protected from the ways of the sinner. (Proverbs 2: 10, 11 in my words.)

      Then, I see the masses living under a bridge in Texas, the persecution of Christians around the world, and the evils or war.  God is in all these places giving hope to those who believe.  He is there reminding them to love their enemy and keep their faith.  Then, here we are in the United States with the comforts of a house and food.  We complain about small things and argue over whether to wear a mask or not.  Some follow false news and spread the lies, when we should be helping our neighbor and showing God's love and understanding.  Let's keep our faith and seek wisdom and understanding.

     Above, the flower represents the one Christian serving in a dry and lost land.  As they struggle to have food and shelter, they keep their faith.  Everything around them is like a dry wasteland while God is establishing His beauty within them.  If only, more will bloom seeking God's wisdom and understanding to create fields of beautiful blossoms for Christ.


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