Get Wisdom

“My son, keep my words

And treasure my commandments within you.

Keep my commandments and live,

And my teaching as the apple of your eye.

Bind them on your fingers;

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Say to wisdom, ’You are my sister,’

And call understanding you intimate friend;

That they may keep you from an adulteress,

From the foreigner who flatters with her words.”

Proverbs 7:1-5

 

Do you want to live? Do you want to defeat sin in your life?  Then “Acquire wisdom!  Acquire understanding!  Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.” (Proverbs 4:5).  Keeping God’s commandments is not cumbersome – it is freedom.  A child that knows the rules and the expectations that have been put into place to protect him and to provide for him is a secure child.  A child who is unsure of the rules, who is not aware of the expectations is always looking over his shoulder and waiting for the punishment to come but not sure what will trigger it.  There is freedom in knowing the rules and following them.  Jesus said that if we keep His commandments, we will abide in His love (John 15:10).  He goes onto say that following these commandments and abiding in His love will bring joy.  There is a great connection between rules, love, and joy.  When a parent loves their child, he will give him rules to provide and protect that child.  Not because of meanness or negligence or control.  When that child chooses to stay within the bounds of the rules, he will live in joy knowing that he is safe and loved.

 

We have the commandments! They are not burdensome to God’s true children.  We are to acquire wisdom.  In other words, we are to know the word of God and there learn not only the rules, but the heart of God – His love, His faithfulness, His grace, His mercy.  This will take time, effort, diligence, discipline, and desire.  Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness? (Matthew 5:6).  Are you like a deer panting for the water? (Psalm 42:10).

Billy Graham was asked if he ever skipped his quiet time with God. His response was that no, how could he?  He read the word constantly throughout each day and prayer continuously.  I don’t carry my Bible everywhere I go, but at home I often reach to look up a verse or to seek God’s direction through His word.  Let the word by the apple of your eye.  That which you value most.  We tend to put the immediate before the important.  Make the word of most importance and review it often.

 

Call God’s wisdom your friend and sister. You would spend time with a cherished friend or sister.  Spend time in the word.  And then they will keep you from the adulteress (sin).  The Holy Spirit will convict you, train you, teach you, and direct you through the word that you have read and memorized and listened.  Be a doer of the word and not a hearer only.  (James 1:22).