Open Heaven Daily Devotional 31 May 2024, Friday Reading Guide
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TOPIC: Wisdom Is Principal
MEMORISE:
“And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” – (Job 28:28)
READ: PROVERBS 4:5-9 (KJV)
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
Open Heaven Daily Devotional 31 May 2024 MESSAGE:
Wisdom is the correct application of knowledge. Acquiring knowledge and applying it are two different things. For example, if a man is driving on a road and sees a road sign that says, ‘Narrow bridge ahead,’ as soon as he sees that sign, he has acquired knowledge. However, what that man decides to do with that knowledge will tell if he is wise or foolish. If the man is wise, he will slow down because the bridge ahead is narrow, and there might be an oncoming vehicle. On the other hand, if he is foolish, he will keep driving at the same speed or even increase the speed of the vehicle.
God said in Proverbs 4:7 that wisdom is the principal thing. Principal refers to the most important thing. This means that to God, getting wisdom is of utmost importance.
The Bible tells us that there are two types of wisdom. The first one comes from fearing God.
*”The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:”* (Psalm 111:10)
Wisdom begins when the fear of God is established in your life. When you fear God, you won’t do anything to annoy Him because you know that He determines your beginning and end. The Bible calls Him a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29); therefore, He is the last person you should offend. Also, if the Consuming Fire is on your side, you have nothing to fear because the word of God says that if God is for you, nobody can be against you (Romans 8:31). Wisdom teaches you to fear God, thus fear Him wherever you go and at all times.
The second type of wisdom is the wisdom of this world (1 Corinthians 1:20). This wisdom is not from God and is actually foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). The world does not recognize God, and as such, worldly wisdom is based on human logic and things that the human mind can grasp. With worldly wisdom, some things can be deemed impossible. However, the Bible tells us that with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).
Do not go with the world’s wisdom, as it is foolishness before God. Choose to fear God, obey His word, and He will give you wisdom, which is the principal thing that you need to succeed in life. When you embrace godly wisdom, you will be honoured and crowned with God’s glory in everything that you do.
PRAYER POINT:
Lord, help me to fear You daily and obey Your word, even if it sounds foolish to my human understanding, in Jesus’ name.
HYMNAL: 30 – WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD
1 When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
2 Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]
3 But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]
4 Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JOB 21-24
Open Heaven Daily Devotional 31 May 2024 guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.