Jesus, being wise and prudent would seem to be a very good thing. How is it that here You say that Your teachings are hidden from the wise and prudent and revealed to babes? We know the answer from Your word. Prudence and wisdom, of which Solomon had abundance, did not necessarily always lead to a closer walk with You.
Fidelity an option?
Father, it is clear that fidelity to You, the Holy Spirit in us, is of utmost importance. We were bought at a great price and if we say we love You, and in fact do love You, at least for a while, and then decide to kick You out of our lives, then we have committed the unpardonable sin which You defined in Hebrews 6:4-6.
Got wisdom? Acknowledge the source…
Father, we see here that age should teach wisdom but it is not always so. Neither great men nor aged men are always wise, but men whose spirit has been breathed upon by Your Spirit, are given understanding, Your understanding.
Will it be a fear filled moment when we stand in Your presence?
Jesus, we know that those who do not proclaim their love for You, will experience fear when You judge them. On the other hand, if we love You, we have a Spirit of adoption. You are our Savior, our Friend.
Which gift from God is most valuable?
Father, You do not ask us to abandon our personal identity and the gifts You have given us as we seek to serve You. You have said the opposite; the body of believers, the Church, is made up of different parts and it is the breadth of our gifts that contribute to the effectiveness of the whole.
Do I need to make some lifestyle changes?
If we were to make a list of things that we think “defile the temple”, what would our list include? God, help us know what it is that You would have us stop doing.
The vanity of vanities, all is vanity…
Father, thank you for teaching us that life is not about three score and 10 years but instead showing us that it is a “proving ground” where we are able to be tested by You and where You will help us overcome evil spirits, spirits which are as real as you are Father and which we can not overcome by ourselves. It is in Your strength that we endure.
My conscience…a flashlight on my soul.
Father, help us this day, not to publicly portray ourselves as Your children and then privately, in our hearts, go right on thinking wrong thoughts and doing things in private that are clearly sinful, as judged by our own hearts.
Rejoice? You have to be kidding. My life is a mess…
Father, Your word says rejoice always. Sometimes Father we feel that true rejoicing in the midst of the trials of this earth is nearly impossible. Thank You for reminding us that we rejoice in the victory of Your presence in all situations. We never suffer or go through trials alone.
Are we at risk when we witness?
If and when we suffer for declaring You, Jesus, among men, we know that our tribulations bring glory to You. We never can out give You. What You did to redeem us exceeds anything we could have hoped for. Our manifest love for You is our response to Your love for us.