Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Joshua
Scripture: James 1:5 James 3:17 Deuteronomy 34:9
Wisdom From Above
Deuteronomy 34:9
Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Wisdom From Above
Life is filled with predicaments that require wisdom. Two men were hiking when they spotted a mountain lion staring at them. One froze in his tracks, but the other sat down on a log, tore off his hiking boots, pulled a pair of running shoes from his backpack and hurriedly began to put them on. "For crying out loud, you can't outrun a mountain lion!" his companion said. "I don't have to," the other shrugged. "I just have to outrun you."
There is some wisdom to what this man said, but this type of earthly wisdom is not sufficient to accomplish God's purposes. Joshua needed much more than common sense if he were to be the leader God wanted him to be. Therefore, as Moses laid hands upon him in prayer, God granted Joshua a supernatural measure of wisdom through His Holy Spirit.
God still offers such wisdom today. James says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him" (James 1:5). But this is not just any wisdom; it is a godly wisdom. James calls it "the wisdom that is from above" (3:17). God, who is the giver of all good gifts, delights in giving godly wisdom to those who truly desire it. We all need it; do we all desire it as well?
If you are facing a situation that calls for real wisdom, don't settle for earthly wisdom. So much more is available to you. Ask God to give you the wisdom that comes from above. Only by godly wisdom can you meet God's expectations.
Godly work always requires godly wisdom.
[James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.]
[James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.]
Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Source: Keep A Quiet Heart
Scripture: Isaiah 51:14
The Angel in the Cell
My brother Dave Howard does a lot of traveling and comes back with wonderful stories. One summer when the six of us Howards with our spouses got together for a reunion, Dave told us this one, heard from the son of the man in the story.
A man whom we'll call Ivan, prisoner in an unnamed country, was taken from his cell, interrogated, tortured, and beaten nearly to a pulp. The one comfort in his life was a blanket. As he staggered back to his cell, ready to collapse into that meager comfort, he saw to his dismay that someone was wrapped up in it--an informer, he supposed. He fell on the filthy floor, crying out, "I can't take any more! whereupon a voice came from the blanket: "Ivan, what do you mean, you can't take any more?" Thinking the man was trying to get information to be used against him, Ivan didn't explain. He merely repeated what he had said.
"Ivan," came the voice, "Have you forgotten that Jesus is with you?"
Then the figure in the blanket was gone. Ivan, unable to walk a minute before, now leaped to his feet and danced round the cell praising the Lord. In the morning the guard who had starved and beaten him asked who had given him food. No one, said Ivan.
"But why do you look so different?"
"Because my Lord was with me last night."
"Oh, is that so? And where is your Lord now?"
Ivan opened his shirt, pointed to his heart--"Here."
"OK. I'm going to shoot you and your Lord right now," said the guard, pointing a pistol at Ivan's chest.
"Shoot me if you wish. I'll go to be with my Lord."
The guard returned his pistol to its holster, shaking his head in bewilderment.
Later Ivan learned that his wife and children had been praying for him on that same night as they read Isaiah 51:14: "The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread" (NIV).
Ivan was released shortly thereafter and continued faithfully to preach the gospel until he died in his eighties.