Devotion for Monday 9 August
Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for today is taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 11 verse 2, “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the sprit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord,” (NRSVB). Isaiah prophesied of the coming of the Messiah and his ministry as he lived and worked in the world whom he came to redeem and save. The Messiah would teach with the anointing of the Spirit of God resting on him and his words would therefore be truth and life, based on the knowledge and wisdom of God the Creator of the universe and his plans and purposes. The writer of the Book of Proverbs wrote in Chapter 9 verse 10, “The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning, the chief and choice part, of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding,” (Amplified Bible).
Christ came from heaven to earth, the Enfleshed Word of God, filled with the perfect understanding of the things of Heaven and of the wisdom of the Father. Christ therefore first taught his disciples regarding the word of God and the scriptures and anchored their faith in the reverent fear of God the Father. He showed his disciples and his followers how to live on earth applying the God-given wisdom and love of the Father, to the people on earth. Christ did not come to condemn, but to seek and save the lost. His heart is filled with tender compassion for those who struggle physically and spiritually. He binds up the wounded and will not break the bruised reed or quench the dimly burning wick is prophesied of the gentle working of the Messiah with those who are weak in Isaiah Chapter 42 verse 3.
Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the one who is filled with power and might from above, is a gentle Saviour. He does not scream or shout, but comes tenderly to those who doubt and are weary and says, “All things are possible, if you believe.” We also cry to the Lord and say, “Lord, I believe, constantly help my weakness of faith,” Mark 9 verse 24, (Amplified Bible). Jesus understands our weaknesses and with his might and power of healing and forgiveness comes to us in our brokenness and gives us hope. He shows us how to reverently fear the Father with our whole heart and mind and with our soul and strength. Then he brings us to a place of understanding and he counsels us to walk anew in the way that he has purposed for us. In our weakness we become strong through his power that dwells in us.
The wisdom of the Lord gives the believer the ability to answer questions regarding faith and the things of the Kingdom of Heaven in such a manner that brings about peace and silences the voices of the attackers. When we have to speak we have to rely on the word of God, for his Spirit will inform us what to say, for the wisdom and knowledge of the spiritual realm is not a knowledge that comes from the minds and learning of humans, but from God himself. Jesus’ words of counselling and teaching were words filled with the perfect knowledge of the past, the present and the future, and it therefore could not be refuted by humans. We read in the gospel of Luke, Chapter 20 verse 26, “They were not able in the presence of the people to trap Jesus by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent,” (NRSVB). God will silence those who are in opposition to the truth and grant the believers tender words to build up the broken hearted. Let us take heart as we study the word of the Lord and are filled with his wisdom, love and compassion.
Father, we praise you, for you are full of love and compassion for us. You are the Creator of the world and walks with us along every step of our dwelling on this earth. You promise to give us your spirit-filled wisdom to continue to see you in our journey on earth. We ask that you will give us your words to proclaim peace, Amen.
