“And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
Daniel 12:3 (ESV)
Shining in Wisdom
The wisdom given by God is pure and free from earthly influences. It sees things from God’s perspective; to do so, it must be void of personal agendas. To the worldly, it often seems foolish.
“For the Word of the cross
is foolishness to those being lost…”
1 Corinthians 1:18 (LITV)
“but to us being saved,
it is the power of God.”
1 Corinthians 1:18 (LITV)
There is no avoiding the precious “Word of the Cross” if we are to “shine like the brightness of the sky above”; no depth of wisdom to those who forsake its way.
The Word of the Cross is not a teaching. It is the only Way by which we grow into His likeness and become recipients of His Wisdom.
Paul declared:
“I die daily.”
1 Corinthians 15:31
The Wisdom of God brings those who will allow its workings to the necessity of a daily dying to self. His Ways are higher than ours. His Wisdom allows us to see victory in the face of seeming defeat. His Wisdom causes us to readily forsake unforgiveness, jealousy, envy and even the hold of fear as we face the coming storm.
We need to look no further for lack of wisdom than within His Church, where division and alienation dim His Light to the world.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, If the grain of wheat that falls into the earth does not die, it remains alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
John 12:24
It is God’s Wisdom that each of us is to “fall into” this earth and die. It is the only path to “shine” His light and bear fruit. Apart from the workings of the cross, people become isolated from a life of involvement in His love, reaching out into the community of faith where they live, and into the world around them. Carnal tendencies keep the uncrucified life bound up within itself.
Jesus goes on to say:
“Whoever loves his life loses it…”
John 12:25
It is the wise who embrace the way of the cross. It is those who are becoming wise that shine the Light of the Crucified One into a world that is perishing.
“And those who are wise
shall shine like the brightness of the sky above”
†
“…the sanctified cross is a fruitful tree.”
Samuel Rutherford
Related Post: The Rugged Way
Shining in Wisdom
“In Christ we see the strength of achievement, and the strength of endurance. He moved with a calm majesty, like the sun. The bloody sweat, and the crown of thorns, and the cross, were full in His eyes; but He was obedient unto death. In His perfect self-sacrifice, we see the perfection of strength; in the love that prompted it, we see the perfection of beauty. This combination of self-sacrifice and love must be commenced in every Christian; and when it shall be in its spirit complete in him, then will he also be perfect in strength and beauty.”
— Mark Hopkins
Brian Troxel
BT do you remember commenting on this dream from 2017?
Is Your Cross Visible?
I had a vision earlier this morning where I saw a street lined with church buildings on either side of it. On the street that was between the churches I saw people carrying crosses. They were not running but moving slowly and their backs were bent from carrying their individual crosses. Then I saw people coming out of the church buildings and begin to pelt those carrying their crosses with all kinds of things.
Several things were worthy of note here:
The crosses were visible for all to see, including those in the church buildings who were hurling objects at those carrying their crosses. It would see that this angered those who came from within the church buildings.
Those carrying their individual crosses were outside of the churches and therefore a reflection of what the church should be but is not. The verse that comes to mind is from Hebrews. Heb 13:13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
Jesus worst persecution did not come from the people one would have expected but rather from religious leaders.
Paul says in Timothy 2Ti 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. It is worthy of note what the verse that follows says, 2Ti 3:13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Evil” is ponēros, “evil in active opposition to the good,” thus, “pernicious.” “Seducers” is goēs, “a wailer, a howler, a juggler, an enchanter” (incantations used to be uttered in a kind of howl), thus, one who chants spells, a wizard, a sorcerer,” hence “a cheat.” Translate, “imposter, deceiver.” “Wax” is prokoptō, “to increase, make progress.” “Deceiving” is planaō, “to lead astray, to deceive.” Expositors comments: “Those who deceive others impair, in so doing, their sense of the distinction between truth and falsehood, and thus weaken their power of resistance to self-deceit and to imposition by others.”
Translation: But pernicious men and impostors shall progress to the worst, leading astray and being led
Yes, that our individual hearts would be steadfastly strengthened with active, engaged, faith functioning love for the wondrous One supernal Triune God of all mercy, all grace, and all goodness, the true, unoriginated, Source, Who Himself Is Love, and in the marvelous, magnificent, munificent overflow of Himself from our blessed being, the expression, the manifestation, the demonstration to our cherished fellow man, regardless of their history, abilities, stature, or situation in this brief, fleeting lifetime.
Oh, that I would be willing to suffer much, much more, absolutely regardless of the intensity/duration of the temptation/trial, rather than displease my all-sufficient, ever-ravishing, resplendent Obsession and forever First Love, my heavenly inheritance everlasting. His creative idea, His Self-resourceful ideation, I am of Himself, the Great I Am; His original and ongoing workmanship. That perfection in progress that He has commenced, He is faithful to complete until that Perfect Day.
To despair we ought not, but instead look and live, pressing the more into His holy heart of infinite worship worthiness. The One Three-Person God never forgets us, fails us, or forsakes us. He does not give up on us because He does not give up on Himself. Reborn from above, be of good cheer, because the celestial city, courtyards, and countryside, the holy, happy highlands of heaven are hereafter.
Hebrews 4:12-16 AMP
12 For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged [b]sword, penetrating as far as the division of the [c]soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account.
14 Inasmuch then as we [believers] have a great High Priest who has [already ascended and] passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust in Him as Savior]. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. 16 Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favour] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].