Seed Basket’s series on wisdom continues with a look at Proverbs 2 . Take a moment to click the link or open your Bible, and read it with your family.
“…But wisdom is proved to be right by the things it does.”
Matthew 11:19 (NLT)
The key verse was a response that Jesus gave the unwise Pharisees.
Matthew 11 (ICB) tells the story from the beginning.
What made them so unwise was the fact that they had access to the Truth in two ways.
First, they had the prophecies of men like Abraham, Isaiah, Jeremiah and so many others.
And they saw Jesus.
They watched as the miracles of Jesus changed lives.
But they didn’t even want to believe. That confession of faith would threaten their autonomy, wealth, and power.
“Seek wisdom as if you were searching for treasure.”
Proverbs 2:4
Of course, the disciples and other believers had a hard time understanding, too. But they saw and had faith.
They believed the miracles were from the Messiah and had faith to trust Jesus, even when they could not understand.
The reason for their struggle was because the Holy Spirit hadn’t come yet to help them. John 7:39 (NLT)
John the Baptist had a moment of confusion, fear and doubt. He was facing death because he offended the Herodians, the religious leaders and others.
John had the godly wisdom to take his crisis of belief to the one source that would give him the answer he sought.
John asked this:
John the Baptist was in prison, but he heard about the things the Christ was doing. So, John sent some of his followers to Jesus. They asked Jesus, “Are you the man who John said was coming, or should we wait for another one?”
Matthew 11:2 & 3 (NLT)
Look what Jesus told him.
Jesus answered, “Go back to John and tell him about the things you hear and see: The blind can see. The crippled can walk. People with harmful skin diseases are healed. The deaf can hear. The dead are raised to life. And the Good News is told to the poor. The person who does not lose faith because of me is blessed.”
Matthew 11:4 – 6 (ICB)
Like John, believers can have a crisis of faith. But God’s people have access to wisdom found in deep relationship with the Spirit and the Word.
People who reject a relationship with Jesus can’t see the wisdom of faith.
But believers have access to wisdom simply by asking God.
“If any of you need wisdom, ask God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
James 1:5 (NLT)
Share the wisdom of the Gospel in your world this week. Start with your own family.
International Children’s Bible (ICB)
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 