TODAY'S DEVOTION: November 02, 2021
"A word to the Wise"

"1. My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2. So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3. Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4. If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. 6. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."
Proverbs 2:1-6 (KJV)
​Reflection:
Mankind has been seeking wisdom and knowledge since the beginning of time, but most people never find it.
Why?
Because in their pride and arrogance, they have sought for it inside themselves, rejecting God and His Word.
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In their minds, wisdom is easy to come by rather than being a treasure that must be sought.
Just listen to the best-selling advice of Oprah Winfrey, whom thousands of people follow:
Our real power comes from knowing who we are . . . and that begins with looking inside ourselves in silence.
I've always believed you really need no gurus, no leaders, no guides—just yourself.
You have all your own best answers.
What you're trying to find is already there.
Be still and know it
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She could not be more spiritually deceived.
Psalm 46:10 does not say "Be still and know yourself," but "Be still and know that I am God."
The Bible doesn't teach that our real power comes from within ourselves, but quite the opposite.
In John 15:5b, Christ says, ". . . for without me, ye can do nothing," and in Philippians 4:13, Paul states, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthenerh me."
In other words, our power and wisdom come from Christ, not from within ourselves.
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So who's right—Oprah or the Bible?
Are the answers to life deep within your own heart, or deep within the heart of God?
In Jeremiah 17:9, the prophet leaves no room for hesitation on this answer when he proclaims, "The heart is deceitful deceitful above all things; and is desperately wicked: who can know it?" Put differently, because of sin and our fallen nature, wisdom does not dwell within us.
Instead, our hearts are sinful, evil, and prideful.
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James promised that "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5).
David wrote, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105).
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These passages leave no shadow of a doubt as to where true wisdom is found.
We are in a world of darkness and in desperate need of light; how distressingly foolish to think that light can be found inside us. Not so!
God is that light, and only by coming to know Him through His revealed Word will we be able to gain wisdom.
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So, God is the ultimate prize. Seek after Him with all your heart, and along the way, you will discover . . . wisdom.
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Prayer:
Think of ways in which God has given you wisdom in the past, whether it was in making an important decision, turning from a sinful habit, or encouraging a friend. Thank Him for the light you needed to make the right decision or to take the next step. Don't hesitate to pray for more wisdom—you will need it today!