Manifold Wisdom...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

Susie Larson here!

And to those visiting, I say welcome! 

I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. As most of you know, each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog. Thanks to your response (and because some of you have never heard of Caribou Coffee), this month's gift card is from Starbucks! So leave a comment and share your thoughts. 

Now, on to my topic...

This morning during my prayer time, I paused and pondered the following passage of Scripture...

"...that the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 3:10)

I did a little study on the word, 'manifold' and here's what it means: varied hues, colorful expression, different shades, a palette of colors

God expresses Himself profoundly. Creatively. He speaks to us in a variety of ways. He teaches us wisdom through His Word, His creation, His people, and by the direction of the Holy Spirit. 

James, chapter one teaches that if any of us lacks wisdom - we just need to ask for it - and then believe - without a doubt - that we will receive exactly the expression of wisdom we need for the moment. 

Over and over again I've told my boys that the promise of more and increasing wisdom, is one of the best kept secrets in the Bible. Wisdom is better than money. It's better than gold. 

And yet, every day people throw away time and money on get-rich-quick schemes. Not a wise thing to do.

We race to and fro with our eyes on the ground and our minds skipping ahead. We lean on our own understanding. We trust in our own insights. We rely on our own perspective.

If wisdom is better than wealth, and we have an open-door offer to gather all of it we could ever want or need, why don't we ask for more? 

Is it selfish if I ask for more? 

If I ask God - on the hour - for more wisdom. Does it mean He has less for you? 

I didn't think so.

Let's go back to the passage from Ephesians. Paul expresses here a hope and an expectation that the Church (you and me) will live and breathe and display a life of such wisdom and authority, that it serves the enemy notice. And it gives the angels pause.

We are the evidence of Christ's victory.

If we receive the insight that God daily offers us, and if we make choices that reflect His active involvement in our lives, things will change. Lives will change. The world will change.

However, if we refuse so great an offer, and determine to go our own way, the evidence of wisdom in our lives will simply be a dull shade of gray. Like a dirty window.

But if we replace our earthly perspective and understanding (our dirty window) with God's other-worldly influence and insight (His stained-glass window), then, when His light shines through, His varied hues and beautiful colors will shine in and through us.

Read this powerful excerpt from my 'Believer's Commentary'...

"From Heaven the angels are compelled to admire His unsearchable judgments and marvel at His ways past finding out. They see how God has triumphed over sin to His own glory. They see how He has sent Heaven's Best for earth's worst. They see how He has redeemed His enemies at enormous cost, conquered them by love, and prepared them as a Bride for His Son. They see how He has blessed them with all spiritual blessings in the Heavenlies. And they see that through the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross, more glory has come to God and more blessing has come to believing Jews and Gentiles than if sin had never been allowed to enter. God is vindicated; Christ has been exalted; Satan has been defeated; and the Church has been enthroned in Christ to share His glory." (p.1928).

Wow!

I've said this before, but one day we will have to give an account for how we lived. Sin repented is gone forever. But what about Kingdom living? In light of all God has offered us - on a daily basis - are we gathering more wisdom? More grace? Are we standing on His promises? Walking with an increased awareness of His presence all around us?

I hope so.

A Heavenly host is watching us. Pulling for us. Praying that we will understand the urgency of the hour.

The times call for great wisdom.

But I have great news for you.

God offers it freely. 

Until next week~

 

Comments

[Connie Husby]

Wow Susie, I loved this on wisdom, the reason I believe it's so enriched and colorful is because God created us so different from each other. We each much take a stand, and I personally am boldly doing so.

Being in the WORD daily, praying and claiming healing according to His promises is changing who I am. I am practicing surrendering my life each new day and asking for His divine Wisdom and Knowledge to better understand what He is trying to teach me. The Bible is exploading with excitement now more than ever with scripture poping off the pages with new meaning.

If we are the church, don't we have an obligation to let our light shine in this dark world we temporarily live in? We must invite CHRIST to be present daily and walk with us...allowing others to witness HIS love through our eyes and hearts. We can only do this by asking God to fill us daily with HIS PERFECT LOVE.

[Kelly F]

Wow, thanks, Susie! That really helps me to gather my thoughts. I just returned from my "Emmaus Walk" experience (3 nights/72 hrs of drawing deeper than I've ever known into the love of Christ.) I left the church building Sun evening, but the experience continues. From here on out, these are called my "4th days." I am forever, truly transformed.Your prayer has covered me: "to be removed from the rat race, and be onto the path to peace."

Your sister in Christ,Kelly F in gorgeous fall color OH

[Kathy S]

Susie, Another inspiring post! Indeed, God's wisdom is our wealth. It is our treasure house. It reminds me of reading Psalm 84 this morning...How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!...For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Ahh, I just posted on being "sons of the Light, and sons of the day" from 1 Thess 5. That being sons of the day means we have the fire burning within us. God's glory. As Connie mentioned, letting our light shine!

[Denise Akkerman]

Susie,Just listening to you on "Along the Way". You are a natural on radio!! Thanks for the reminder to pray for wisdom. What a gift God promises us and all we need do is ask!Thanks!

[Helen Martin]

Yikes, how easily distracted I can be!

I read what you said about asking for wisdom hourly... and I thought, that's such a good idea!

But I didn't DO IT. I still haven't done it, so just a sec'...

There.

Sheesh, how many good ideas do I take note of and not do?

Why not ask every 15 minutes! I need an old fashioned chiming clock...

[Susie Larson]

Helen,Once you get in the habit of asking for wisdom and more wisdom, it's like breathing. Every moment you think of it, look up. :)Blessings,Susie

[Susie Larson]

Dear Denise,Thanks for listening in. I hope you enjoyed the show. We had such great guests! May God lavish His wisdom on you!Be blessed~

[Susie Larson]

Kathy,

Amen and amen! May we shine ever brighter until the full light of day; going from strength to strength; glory to glory.

[Carolyn]

A friend and I studied Ephesians 3 just last week and were stumped on this very verse. I did a little commentary study but it didn't clear things up for me. I was catching up on your blogs and lo and behold, here's a great explanation of it! God's timing, as always, is impeccable. :-) Love to you and yours.

[Susie Larson]

Dear Connie,

Thanks for your post! And so well put! I love it!May our light shine to a world in need. :)Bless you~

[Susie Larson]

Kelly,Wow, when you have a moment, post a little more about your Emmaus walk. I'd love to know more about it and I'm sure others would as well.And your 'fourth days'...what a cool idea. The days are still sacred. Each and every one of them.Bless you!

[Susie Larson]

Carolyn,

How cool is that?

I'm so glad to know this post shed some light on that verse for you.

Thanks for stopping by.

I appreciate you, Carolyn. :)