Wisdom Through Counsel: Wisdom in Accepting Advice

 

"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a person who listens to advice is wise." — Proverbs 12:15

A fool rejects advice because he believes his way is right. The world often labels such a person as self-confident, independent, or intelligent, but the Bible calls them a fool. Self-examination, skepticism about one’s own actions and opinions, caution are characteristic of the wise. Walking on the wrong path while believing it is correct is dangerous. Ignoring such danger is not courage—it is foolishness.

I don’t want to be like the fool described in this verse. I will seek wisdom and remain open to accepting the right advice.

Topical meditation 2024

December 10

Wisdom Through Counsel: The Importance of Seeking Good Advice

 "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." — Proverbs 15:22

"Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." — Proverbs 11:14

In various verses in the book of Proverbs, the wisest man in the world advises us to seek counsel. It is unwise to make important decisions or plans without listening to advice. However, one must choose the right advisors. Only by listening to wise counselors can one’s plans succeed. Wise advisors are those who know the Word of God well, love it and live by its principles.

Many Christians could have avoided trouble if they had consulted God-fearing, wise people. For example, a young man ignores the advice of his God-fearing parents and friends and later discovers that his beautiful wife is rebellious, quarrelsome, and grumbling. A girl in love refuses to listen to the advice of wise, experienced people—her parents or her pastor—and marries someone who has never truly been converted but got baptized solely for the sake of marriage.

Therefore, I will choose my advisors wisely and accept their guidance. I will also pray for a humble heart to accept good advice.

Topical meditation 2024

December 9

No More Shame: A Promise of Restoration

 "My people will never again be put to shame." (Joel 2:26, 27)

After the promises of restoration and abundance, the Lord makes this wonderful promise and repeats it twice: "My people will never again be put to shame."

The phrase "never again" indicates that they were once put to shame. They were ashamed because sin always brings shame. But that is in the past. Everything will be restored among God’s people, including holiness. Where there is holiness, there is no reason to be ashamed. Where there is faith in the Lord, there is no reason to be ashamed. And because they are the Lord’s own people, they will never again be put to shame.

From my diary,

December 8, 2024

A Prayer Taught by God

 

Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. - Hosea 14:2

The prophet not only calls God’s people to return to Him but also teaches them how to return and how to pray. Since the prophet does not speak from himself but conveys the Word of God, it means that the words of prayer are taught by the Lord. How wonderful it is that God tells His people what words to use when addressing Him! The best prayer is the prayer learned from God. It will certainly be accepted because it is dictated by Him. This is like a king dictating the petition that you are to present to him. In that case, you can be sure that the petition will be accepted because he himself has dictated it.

God has dictated to us the petition we are to address to Him. If we take the petition He has dictated and bring it before Him, it will be accepted. If we pray using the words of the prayer He has spoken, the prayer will be answered. He directs the repentant one to say, “Take away all iniquity.” Yes, all of it—not just a few sins. Will He not hear this prayer if He Himself has said we should pray this way? “Receive us graciously.” This is what He has dictated; we cannot pray otherwise, saying, “Receive us by our merits,” because we have no merit.

He not only commands us to pray in this way but also answers the prayer with this wonderful promise: “I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, because My anger has turned away from them.” (Hosea 14:4)

From my diary,

December 7, 2024

Learning to Say 'No': Lessons from Grace

 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age. (Titus 2:11-12)

Here is a wonderful teacher: Grace. It teaches God’s children something essential—to say “no.” Grace instructs us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions. No temptation brought by Satan can lead a child of God into sin if they have learned to say “no” to sin and to reject worldly desires.

Every person saved by grace becomes a student of Grace. Grace empowers us to live a holy life; it grants freedom—freedom from sin and worldly desires. In our time, much is said about being under grace and living in freedom. Some argue, “ We are under grace. It doesn’t matter what we do because the Lord is merciful and forgiving.” But grace gives freedom to stay away from sin, not to stay in sin. I have often heard Christian girls say, “I am free; I don’t like to be tied down. That’s why I wear revealing clothes.” Sadly, they do not realize that they are not free; they are captives of the world and of people’s opinions.

I am saved by grace and have been given freedom from sin and worldly desires. As a student of Grace, I am learning every day to reject ungodliness and worldly passions, so that I may live a self-controlled, upright, and godly life in this present age.

From my diary,

December 6, 2024

God’s Word: Strange to Some, Precious to Others

 I have written for him the great things of My law, but they were considered a strange thing. - Hosea 8:12

It is sad that what God has written was regarded as strange by His own people. The things written in His Word were considered foreign to those who were His chosen ones. Even today, God’s Word remains strange to many.

The Bible is strange to those who have never read it, or who have read it but have not been born again through its power. It is strange to those who read it but refuse to obey it. It is strange to those who are spiritually blind and unable to see the beauty of God’s Word, who have not been renewed by its life-giving truth.

In contrast, the Word of God is familiar to those who know its Author. It is cherished by those who seek wisdom from above and have a home in the place where that Word originated. To them, God’s Word is a source of meditation, a foundation for prayer, a subject of conversation, a longing of the heart, an object of love, a source of joy, and a trustworthy guide.

Lord, I love the great things of Your written Word—the precious promises, the blessed commandments, and the wonders of Your law. Thank You for Your Word, which is not strange to me but familiar and beloved.

From my diary,

December 5, 2024

The Consequences of Ignorance

 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Since you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the Law of your God, I also will forget your children. (Hosea 4:6)

This verse is not about strangers but about God's own people. They were destroyed for lack of knowledge—not because they didn’t have the opportunity to receive it, but because they rejected it. God will reject those who reject the knowledge of Him. Knowledge is rejected when people ignore the means of obtaining it: reading the Bible, meditating on the Word of God, and listening to biblical sermons. Knowledge is rejected when one does not have communion with the Giver of true knowledge—God.

Those who lack knowledge don’t know important things about themselves: that they are sinners, that they cannot save themselves, and they don’t know about God: that He alone can deliver them from sin. Without knowledge, people destroy their spiritual life, good reputation, happiness, and security.

On the other hand, those who have true knowledge have power. If a person knows that without sanctification no one will see God, they will strive to grow in sanctification. If a person knows that the Lord is Almighty, they will not worry. If a person knows that the Lord is the Water of Life, they will not seek the impure water of the world.

Therefore, acquiring true knowledge is essential. A lack of knowledge results in a lack of power, holiness, and joy.

Thus, I must:

Always use the means available to acquire true knowledge.

Pray for true knowledge.

Be grateful for the knowledge I have already received.

From my diary,

December 4, 2024

Only the Best from the Heavenly Father

If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? — Luke 11:11

The answer to Jesus’ question is obvious: no loving father would give a child a stone instead of bread, or a serpent instead of a fish. And if a child foolishly asks for a serpent, a wise father would never grant such a request.

In the same way, our heavenly Father gives us only what is good and what we truly need.

Jesus’ question encourages us to pray with confidence, trusting that our heavenly Father will provide us with good gifts, always for our benefit.

From my diary,

December 3, 2024

Measured by God's Scale

 TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting. Daniel 5:27

Here is a scale where being found lacking is a grave matter. When I step on a physical scale and see a low number, I feel happy. However, on God's scale, falling short is a serious matter.

The spiritual scale is the Word of God, I must weigh my spiritual condition every day and turn to the Lord in case of a shortcoming.

Spurgeon's meditation on this subject is very impressive, in which he gives wonderful advice.

"It is well, to frequently weigh ourselves in the scale of God's Word. You will find it a holy exercise, to read some psalm of David, and, as you meditate upon each verse, to ask yourself, "Can I say this? Have I felt as David felt? Has my heart ever been broken on account of sin—as his was when he penned his penitential psalms? Has my soul been full of true confidence in the hour of difficulty—as his was when he sang of God's mercies in the cave of Adullam, or in the strongholds of Engedi? Do I take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord?"

Then turn to the life of Christ, and as you read, ask yourselves how far you are conformed to His likeness. Endeavor to discover whether you have the meekness, the humility, the lovely spirit which He constantly inculcated and displayed.

Take, then, the epistles, and see whether you can go with the apostle in what he said of his experience. Have you ever cried out as he did, "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death"? Have you ever felt his self-abasement? Have you seemed to yourself the chief of sinners, and less than the least of all saints? Have you known anything of his devotion? Could you join with him and say, "For me to live is Christ—and to die is gain"?

If we thus read God's Word as a test of our spiritual condition, we shall have good reason to stop many a time and say, "Lord, I feel I have never yet been here, O bring me here! give me true penitence, such as this I read of. Give me real faith; give me warmer zeal; inflame me with more fervent love; grant me the grace of meekness; make me more like Jesus. Let me no longer be 'found lacking,' when weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, lest I be found lacking in the scales of judgment." "Judge yourselves—that you be not judged."

This is a powerful meditation and provides the right counsel for self-examination.

May I never see TEKEL on God's scale.

From my diary,

December 2, 2024

When Friends Pray Together

 Then Daniel went to his house and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. - Daniel 2:17,18

When Daniel learned that he and his friends were in danger of death along with the other wise men of Babylon because of the king’s dream, he did not panic but calmly asked the king for time to interpret the dream. He requested time because he trusted God; he knew the Lord would answer them. Daniel did not turn to the astrologers, he did not seek their books or counsel, but he and his friends sought mercy from God.

The same danger threatened all the wise men of Babylon, yet Daniel went to his three friends who trusted in the same God, served the same God, and joined him in going to the mercy seat of God. How wonderful it is when friends are also prayer partners!

I have been asking the Lord for praying friends lately. The best friend is someone who talks to you about Jesus, talks to Jesus about you, and talks to Jesus with you.

I want to be a praying person like Daniel and have praying friends who will pray with me, just as Daniel's friends prayed with him.

From my diary,

December 1, 2024

Sprinkled and Sanctified: A Promise of Purity

 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols." - Ezekiel 36:25

The Lord made this wonderful promise to His people when they were not yet cleansed. He did not expect them to be purified before accepting them as His own. He did not choose them because they were holy; He chose them to make them holy.

The Lord reveals to us our need for cleansing—something we would not recognize on our own. Once we realize our need, He makes it clear that we cannot cleanse ourselves. That is why He, in His grace, sprinkles clean water on us, and we are made clean. He cleanses us from all filthiness and all idols—not just a few.

The clean water represents His Word. He is the one who cleanses, and we are the ones being cleansed.

Holiness is the most desirable blessing, one for which I pray every day.

From my diary,

November 30, 2024

The Time for Thanksgiving is Always

 "Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 5:20

The Bible tells us there is a time for everything, yet some things are meant to be constant. When is the time to give thanks to the Lord? Always.Any moment of the day is the right time to be thankful.

What should I thank the Lord for? All things.Gratitude isn’t reserved for the big blessings—salvation, forgiveness of sins, holiness, or victories. It also extends to the everyday good things that we often overlook. I should thank the Lord not only for spiritual nourishment but also for physical food. I should be grateful not only for the Word of God but also for the simple privilege of reading His Word in my cozy room, sitting at my desk. Many lack a home, a room of their own, or even the light to read by.

Gratitude is not limited to prayers with positive answers. Even when the answer is "no," there is reason to be thankful. I should thank the Lord for the things I asked for but did not receive, and for the countless blessings I never asked for yet He graciously provided.

A truly grateful heart understands that every good thing comes from God. It recognizes that these blessings are undeserved and received by grace, not earned through merit.

When we grasp this truth, it becomes natural to be thankful always and for everything.

From my diary,

November 29, 2024

The Commandment, the Promise, and the New Heart

 "Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?" - Ezekiel 18:31

Can a person receive a new heart and a new spirit? Yes — if they turn to the One who gave this commandment and also promised to fulfill it: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you." (Ezekiel 36:26).

We must go to the One who made the promise and receive it. God has both commanded us to have a new heart and a new spirit and promised to give them to us. Our part is to ask and receive. A person who is satisfied with their sinful heart will not seek to receive a new one. Likewise, one who doubts God’s power to transform will not seek the new heart.

When God gives a commandment, He also provides a promise, and that promise becomes the foundation of our prayers. The commandment reveals our powerlessness against sin; the promise shows us that God alone can give us the power to overcome it. Prayer is the means by which we access that power.

The commandment reminds us of our lost and corrupt hearts. The promise gives us hope for salvation and the gift of a new heart. Prayer allows us to receive the fulfillment of that promise. Both the commandment and the promise are from God, but prayer is the response He requires from us.

From my diary,

November 28, 2024

Step by Step with the Lord

“Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” - Psalm 37:5

I will commit my way to the Lord, and I will not go astray.

I will commit my way to the Lord, and my path will be illuminated by the lamp of His Word.

I will commit my way to the Lord, and I will not stumble along the way.

I will commit my way to the Lord, forsaking my own ways and following His leading, step by step.

I will commit my way to the Lord, trusting Him to guide me through every obstacle I encounter.

I will commit my way to the Lord, and I will journey safely under His care.

From my diary,

November 27, 2024

 

The Blessing of Quiet Time with God

 “Arise, go out into the plain, and there I shall talk with you.” - Ezekiel 3:22

The Lord’s invitation to step away from the noise of the world and meet Him in solitude is not just for the prophet—it is for all who seek Him. To those who respond, He gives this promise: I will talk with you. How unwise it would be to ignore such a privilege.

When I neglect time with Jesus, the temptations become stronger and more difficult to resist. When I fail to listen to God’s voice in His Word, other, strange voices will inevitably reach me. If I do not spend time in the presence of Jesus, I will misuse my time and waste it. If I do not behold the wonders of His Word, my eyes will wander to the vain things of this world. I have experienced both the blessings of quiet times with the Lord and the harm of neglecting them. Let me learn a lesson from this.

Let me not neglect the great privilege of spending much time in the presence of the Lord. If walking with the wise makes a man wise, how much more will spending time with the Source of all wisdom transform me?

From my diary,

November 26, 2024