The Beginning Of Wisdom

By Joshua Cordero

SCRIPTURE

The fear of the Lord is the beginning

of wisdom; all who follow his precepts

have good understanding. To Him

belongs eternal praise. Psalm 111:1

OBSERVATION

In alternative interpretations fear is another word for reverence or even worship. This suggests that wisdom begins when we properly acknowledge who and what God is and then offer Him the worship He deserves.



APPLICATION
The word wisdom reminds me that life's true significance is discovered when I approach God with an attitude of humility and awe, not dread, guilt and fright. The unknown future is a frightening thing. However, whatever the topic may be: finances, work, marriage or even dreams and aspirations, we are called to give God the honor due to Him by obeying His will in each of these areas. God wants me to involve Him in the different areas of my life for my sake! I need to be wise and humbly seek God's perspective on any matter before acting, and not throw caution to the wind and act on my own impulses. I must become a man who fears God, who daily worships and honors Him and then surrenders my life to the Father's hands. Then I will have nothing to fear in either life or death..

PRAYER

Dear Jesus,

Help me to be a humble man in everything I think, say and do. It is my desire to be wise. To do that I need to have you as the priority in my life in every aspect. I acknowledge you as the center of everything I am and everything I need to be. Help me to put you in the center so that everything else can come together.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Salvation Belongs To Our God!

SCRIPTURE

And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne, and to
the Lamb. Revelation 7:10



OBSERVATION
Because of God's great love for us He makes it
very simple, very clear, and very plain.
There is only one way to salvation and that is
through His Son Jesus Christ. Salvation belongs
to Him! Jesus is our sacrificial lamb. It is God's
desire that all men would know and walk in it.
2 Peter 3:9b says, "He is patient with you, not
wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come
to repentance."


APPLICATION
People are searching for the path of salvation. Some
are not quite sure what they even need to be saved
from, but they're trying to fill that empty place inside
that God made for Him and Him only.

As a Christian I am to be ready to share where my hope
comes from. My salvation message. Opportunities
usually come when we lest expect them to, or when
we lest want them to. I will be ready with the word
of hope that will lead others to the path of salvation.

PRAYER
Father,
Thank you for your plan of salvation. Thank you that
I'm not left alone in sin. Salvation belongs to you and
you sit on your throne just waiting to give that gift
freely to us all. Thank you for my salvation! Help me
Lord to be ready at all times to share that same plan
with others. Help not to be too busy or to not even
notice those you are putting in my path to share your
plan with. Thank you for your faithfulness.
In Jesus name, Amen

Let God Be Exalted!

SCRIPTURE
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation always say,
"Let God be exalted!" Psalm 70:4


OBSERVATION
Throughout Psalm seventy David petitions God for help
and he needs his help NOW! In verse five and six he says,
"come quickly to me," and "do not delay." There is great
urgency in David's words. Yet, in verse four it seems like a
calmness comes over David. He remembers the power in his
salvation and to rejoice and exalt God no matter what the
situation.


APPLICATION
There have been MANY times in my life where I not only
need God's help and intervention, but I am desperate for
Him!
This verse reminds me to take a breath no matter
what I'm going through and remember to, "rejoice and
be glad," "love my salvation," and "exalt God!"
Of course I'm not going to be glad about the
situation, but I can be glad in the Lord. When I choose
to do this I open the heavenly door to His presence and my
problems just seem to get a little smaller as I allow the
peace and hope of God to fill my heart. Knowing
He has the answer for whatever I'm going through.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the peace and the hope I find in you.
I thank you for my salvation. Help me to always remember you
are a breath away and to always exalt and praise your
mighty name, to rejoice and be glad in YOU. You are worthy
of praise no matter what the situation is. Thank you for your
faithfulness.
In Jesus name, Amen

Worthy Is The Lamb!

SCRIPTURE
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels,

numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand

times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the

living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:

"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power

and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and

glory and praise!" Revelation 5:11-12


OBSERVATION
WOW!! What a powerful visual picture this gives us of the

awesome praise and worship going on in heaven. My mind

is trying to picture that many angels, in a circle singing praises

in a loud voice.

Jesus teaches us how to pray in Matthew chapter six.

In verse ten of chapter six it says "your kingdom come,

your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

We are establishing God's kingdom here on earth

when we sing praise in a loud voice just as the angels are

doing in heaven.

APPLICATION
At times my praise and worship is spoken to the Lord in a

whisper, or a soft song, but this verse reminds me to chime

in with the angels in a loud voice and sing praises to the

Lord giving Him honor and glory to His name. As I do this

I am establishing His kingdom here on earth.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father,

I thank you for my voice. Thank you that I live in a country where

I may sing and shout your praises in a loud voice without fear.

Thank you that I may join in with the angels in heaven giving you

all honor and glory! Worthy is the Lamb! AMEN!

Give the Best Gift

SCRIPTURE

Revelation 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever...

Revelation 4:11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."


OBSERVATION

When we worship our Father it's like when a child shows appreciation to their parent. When we worship, when we praise, it's the best earthly gift we can give to our father our creator. It's our offering to God.


APPLICATION

I need to be what God has created me to be and to do what God has asked me to do. To show God my appreciation and Love every day.

PRAYER

Help me not to take you for granted. I truly appreciate all the blessing you have delivered to me. I pray that I am the person you have created and want me to be.

Listen for the knock

SCRIPTURE

Rev.3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

OBSERVATION

Jesus does not barge in. He waits until the door of my heart and mind is open to let him in. He is always willing and ready. It is I who need to take action to open myself to his presence. It is Jesus who will take in my meal FIRST ...he will hear me, hear what I have to say and offer. Then He in turn will provide the meal I am lacking and need for the journey that I am on. It is like in Ezekiel 4:14-15 when Ezekiel presented his concerns and God listened and heard and allotted the change according to his plan for Ezekiel.


APPLICATION

God will listen and will hear ...if I just open up and take in His leading.

PRAYER

Thank You, Jesus, for allowing me to hear and see that You are there and ready to hear and lead me to Your perfect plan in my life.

Discipline's rewards

SCRIPTURE

Hebrews 12:11 "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

OBSERVATION

Jesus wants us to discipline ourselves in our lives and get the most out of it. Discipline in any area is difficult, therefore painful. But, as the scripture says, one will reap the rewards for being trained to abstain. If discipline can lead to achieving the great goals that we have set for ourselves, it is worth traveling that bumpy road.


APPLICATION

There are a lot of areas in my life where I need discipline. Those areas include planning my day, praying to and thanking God more often, not giving in to sin (even in the slightest area), do what I propose to do, and strive more to get ahead. Even though I am a law abiding man, that is not enough. It's not fair to God if I obey man's law, and ignore the ways in which God wants me to be more like Him.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, thank you for thinking I can be a more disciplined person in your eyes. Teach me to be more disciplined and how not to give in to the temptation away from the road of a disciplined life. Forgive my failures and help me in my weakness. I know this is the correct road as it will lead to your gate. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.