Wisdom Life Enrich Your Life
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· 58 viewsWisdom will enrich your life if you listen and commit to her.
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Introduction:
When I first started courting my wife, I was very intentional in my pursuit of her.
And in those early days of courtship, I remember all the different ways I was intentional with in my pursuit of her. I would want to be with her every opportunity I got. I was thinking about her when we were apart. I would do things I don’t normally do because I was trying to impress her like watch musicals or eat vegan food. I would drive to LA just to see her and have a meal with her. I would ask her if she needed help decorating her classroom. I would try to actually look nice.
I remember all the different ways I was intentional with in my pursuit of her. I would want to be with her every opportunity I got. I was always thinking about her when we were apart. I would do things I don’t normally do because I was trying to impress her like watch musicals or eat vegan food. I would drive to LA just to see her and have a meal with her. I would ask her if she needed help decorating her classroom. I would try to actually look and dress nice.
I was intentional because I wanted to win her hand in marriage and to have her as my partner in life and in ministry.
Its been just six years, and I just want to say that my wife has enriched my life. We have been blessed with four children now (Helen is pregnant) and I am truly blessed to call my helper and my greatest earthly treasure. I have repeatedly said that she has made me a better man, a better father, a better husband, a better pastor, and a better Christian. This woman has brought blessing into my life.
In a spiritual way, whether you are married or not, tells us that wisdom will also enrich your life. Wisdom will bring blessing and make you a better student, a better father, a better mother, a better member, a better Christian.
If you pursue, prize, value, treasure, commit to wisdom, wisdom will enrich your life and in fact grant you eternal life if you know what wisdom ultimately points to.
This has been the theme of Proverbs. That is why it has been repeated over and over again.
Background
Last week, we saw we should avoid the forbidden woman or the adultreress. The woman who is rebellious, immodest, seductive, sexually immoral. This week, we turn to a different kind of woman. A woman who we should pursue. And this woman is personified as wisdom.
Chapter seven describes the forbidden woman in the dark and private places, while chapter eight describes wisdom is out in the the light and open.
Chapter seven describes the forbidden woman as immoral, chapter eight describes wisdom as virtuous.
Chapter seven describes the forbidden woman is seductive, chapter eight describes wisdom as straitforward and plain with the truth.
Chapter seven describes the forbidden woman leading a young man to death, while chapter eight invites the young man to life.
Solomon already alluded to this in chapter one and chapter three, but he reminds his Son to embrace Lady Wisdom instead of Lady Folly. Wisdom will enrich your life if you
Listen to Her (vv. 1-11)
Value Her (vv. 12-21)
Admire Her (vv. 22-31)
Commit to Her (vv. 32-35)
Scripture Reading: I will read the Scripture as we go along in our sermon this morning since we will be covering the whole chapter.
Does not wisdom call?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
On the heights beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
“To you, O men, I call,
and my cry is to the children of man.
O simple ones, learn prudence;
O fools, learn sense.
Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right,
for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
They are all straight to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge.
Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and discretion.
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
I have counsel and sound wisdom;
I have insight; I have strength.
By me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly.
I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.
Riches and honor are with me,
enduring wealth and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work,
the first of his acts of old.
Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,
rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.
“And now, O sons, listen to me:
blessed are those who keep my ways.
Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord,
but he who fails to find me injures himself;
all who hate me love death.”
I. Listen to Wisdom (vv. 1-11)
I. Listen to Wisdom (vv. 1-11)
What I love about wisdom here is that she is seeking the naive and simple. She is crying aloud and raising her voice to all people in the public places and the busiest intersections.
Wisdom cries out in public (vv. 1-3)
Proverbs
Does not wisdom call?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
On the heights beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
Where is she?
She cries out on the heights. All can see her. She cries out besides the way or where people are traveling. She cries out at the crossroads, the place where you have to make a decision at which path you are going to stand. She cries out in the gates in front of town where decisions are being made. She cries out at the entrance which means you must pass by her.
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 8
City gates consisted of a towered entrance and a large open area where people gathered, similar to a civic or community center. Citizens
Everyone sees her. Everyone hears her. Everyone passes by her. The question is will we stop and listen?
She cries aloud for people to stop and listen.
I have learned that we worship best when we listen. Do you stop, and let God speak? Are you listening to what God is saying to you?
Prayer is most effective when you respond to what God has said in His Word.
Do you stop and see God speaking his glory in Creation?
Do you stop and hear God speaking in his Word?
Do you stop and hear God speaking in Christ?
Do you stop and hear God speaking in His Prophets and Apostles?
We must pay attention to what she has to say.
Wisdom cries out to all people (vv. 4-5)
Prover
Proverbs 5
“To you, O men, I call,
and my cry is to the children of man.
O simple ones, learn prudence;
O fools, learn sense.
Wisdom is not for the high and lofty, not for the philosophers or the academics, pastors or intellectually superior, but it is to all men children of men.
Wisdom is not for the pastors
The difference between human wisdom and biblical wisdom is that biblical wisdom is offered for all who will take it. You don’t have to be a Ph D. to have wisdom. You don’t have to be a Greek philosopher to attain wisdom.
Simple are those inexperienced and the gullible. Fools are those who scoff and mock at truth.
Why should you listen to wisdom?
Let us not miss the fact stated here: wisdom is ever speaking, calling, seeking, inviting, and demanding our attention! God is not silent. He does not sit by quietly, letting the world pass by until someone stops and gives Him attention.
How we need true words today! In a world of fake news, in a world where advertisers lie to make money, in a world where truth is relative and determined by the individual or society, we need someone to speak authoritatively and one who knows how reality works. And here is wisdom.
Wisdom gives true knowledge (vv. 6-11)
Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right,
for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
They are all straight to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge.
Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right,
for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
They are all straight to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge.
What does wisdom speak? Noble things, right things, true things, straight things. The way of wisdom is the the straight path, the right path, the true path.
Similarly, when wisdom speaks, ‘right things’ come forth. This Hebrew word is found nineteen times in the Old Testament with a range of meaning which includes notions of a level way, order, justly, uprightness, straightness, equity, justice and integrity. The words of wisdom conform to reality. They are in line with what God is
How we need true words today! In a world of fake news, in a world where advertisers lie to make money, in a world where truth is relative and determined by the individual or society, we need someone to speak authoritatively and one who knows how reality works. And here is wisdom.
There is nothing twisted or crooked in her words. There is nothing perverse in what she says.
Christian—You can trust the Bible. There is no error in this book. We believe that the Bible is inerrant (without error) and (infallible) speaks what is true. Because this book is breathed out by God, we can trust God for the day to day decisions we have to make.
She is better than money.
Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and discretion.
Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
True wealth is measured not in dollars and cents, but in the not-so-common sense arising from the impartation of God’s truth.
Christian—You can trust the Bible. There is no error in this book. We believe that the Bible is inerrant (without error) and (infallible) speaks what is true. Because this book is breathed out by God, we can trust God for the day to day decisions we have to make.
No one can make an excuse before God! You can’t say to God I wasn’t wise because I didn’t have the right opportunities. Or I didn’t have the proper education. Or I didn’t have money to pursue wisdom. Wisdom was calling to us in the public places. She was crying out to us.
Wisdom was calling to us in the public places. She was crying out to us.
She called to us in creation, in revelation, in prophets and apostles, in pastors and preachers, in evangelists. Did you listen? Were you hearing properly?
Wholistic Discipleship—Wisdom is not just for Sundays, but for Mondays.
Integrated Discipleship--Wisdom is not just for Sundays, but for Mondays. Wisdom is calling in the public places where decisions are made everyday. You cannot compartmentalize your spirituality to just one day a week. Proverbs gives you wisdom for work, for sex, for marriage, for friendship, for speech, for guidance. You have everything you need in this book to live a God-fearing life. You don’t have to be a philosopher, a scholar, a pastor to get wisdom. It is for all people who will turn to listen.
You don’t have to be a philosopher, a scholar, a pastor to get wisdom. It is for all.
Non-Christian—God can give you wisdom if you stop and actually listen to God. When you realize that you may not have the answers, and actually turn to the Scriptures, you may find the answers you were looking for were here all along. Don’t come to the Bible with a critical heart, but come with an open and humble heart and you will be amazed at the truth it speaks to the world we live in.
Similarly, when wisdom speaks, ‘right things’ come forth. This Hebrew word is found nineteen times in the Old Testament with a range of meaning which includes notions of a level way, order, justly, uprightness, straightness, equity, justice and integrity. The words of wisdom conform to reality. They are in line with what God is
Transition: Wisdom will not only enrich your life if you listen to her, but if you value her.
True wealth is measured not in dollars and cents, but in the not-so-common sense arising from the impartation of God’s truth.
II. Value Wisdom (vv. 12-21)
II. Value Wisdom (vv. 12-21)
You remember, wisdom is skill in living. And wisdom is particularly skill in living a God-fearing life. When you highly value wisdom, it will change how you live.
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and discretion.
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I find knowledge and discretion.
Prudence can be “shrewdness”. Prudence is the ability to judge the best decision. She has knowledge and discretion. Discretion is the ability to choose the best decision.
A. Wisdom will teach you the fear of the Lord.
This is the theme of the whole book of Proverbs. It is to teach you how to fear the Lord in everyday life so you would not ruin your life. There is a healthy fear: like fear of offending a loving Father, and there is a wrong kind of fear: the fear of offending a cruel master. Proverbs teaches us the first kind of fear.
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
It is a holy fear. Fearing God means hating evil. It means hating what God hates. And in particular, he hates pride, arrogance, the way of evil, and perverted speech.
He hates pride because it exalts human wisdom over God’s wisdom, He hates arrogance because it believes itself to be wiser God, and He hates evil because God is the standard and source of all goodness, and he hates perverted speech because God speaks only what is true and right.
B. Wisdom will help you live successfully
I have counsel and sound wisdom;
I have insight; I have strength.
Proverbs 8:
Counsel is the ability to plan something out. Sound wisdom is the strategic resourcefulness to carry the plan out. Insight is the ability to choose the best plan. Strength is the ability to execute the plan.
C. Wisdom will help you justly
By me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly.
Proverbs 8:
From the highest rulers like the supreme court, to the local officials, down to the judges.
The NET Bible First Edition Notes Notes for 8:7
The Niphal has the meanings of “reliable, faithful, sure, steadfast,” and the Hiphil has the meaning “believe” (i.e., consider something dependable). The noun “truth” means what is reliable or dependable, firm or sure.
The word ‘justice’ described the judicial procedures which were rightly undertaken and executed in order to provide a fair trial, and to make certain that what came of the proceedings was right. The word translated ‘righteousness,’ on the other hand, described the character and behavior of the one whose job it was to make certain these proceedings achieved this end.
D. Wisdom will reward you
I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.
Riches and honor are with me,
enduring wealth and righteousness.
I love those who love me,
and those who seek me diligently find me.
Riches and honor are with me,
enduring wealth and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
Proverbs 8:
Verse seventeen is calling for an intentional pursuit and appropriate affection for wisdom. You must love her and diligently pursue her in the way you would pursue your bride.
Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. In other words, her wealth lasts and does not fade away.
Teaching a prosperity theology?
Teaching a prosperity theology?
This verse is not teaching a prosperity theology as if we seek wisdom to only get gold or money. No, what the author is saying is that if you prize wisdom as your primary pursuit, you will get wealth thrown into it as you live a righteous life. This is the OT version of . God will give you everything you need to life a godly life and a happy life as you trust and obey.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
I walk in the way of righteousness,
in the paths of justice,
granting an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.
Her fruit is better than the best and most refined gold. She walks in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, and granting inheritance to those who love her.
Christian—Wisdom is more than about you achieve in life, but more about who you are becoming in life. God’s wisdom will help you be the type of person who fears God, lives righteously and justly, and when you do that, generally you will accumulate not only wealth, but honor and favor before God.
Wisdom is more than about an education, but a skill in living.
Remember, proverbs are general sayings about how life works. And in general, if you fear the Lord, live righteously, work diligently, save money, there are certain benefits that come from a God-fearing life.
But we know in a fallen world, that is not always the case. Because you can still be God-fearing and experience poverty, persecution, and even death for following Jesus.
But the proverbs are generally true in fallen world, but they will certainly be true a renewed world.
If you aren’t living a changed life, then you are not listening to wisdom properly. It should change how you relate to others and make you have an active concern for the those who cannot speak, those who have no ability to defend themselves, and those who are in need of help.
Wisdom will help you live a God-fearing life, a successful life, and a just life. And you will be blessed if you live this way.
Transition: You must not only listen to wisdom, value wisdom, but also admire her...
III. Admire Wisdom (vv. 22-31)
III. Admire Wisdom (vv. 22-31)
Contrary to what the world teaches, we did not arrive on this planet by chance of evolution. Instead, this world was designed by the wisdom of God. The galaxies, the planets, the land, the sea, the air, the plant life, the animal life, and human life all designed by a wise God. We see wisdom in the beiginning with God.
Debates in church history have been over whether this refers to Christ or not. Arius, an early church heretic, denied the divinity of Christ using this verse. This is a personification of wisdom, but the NT gives us a fuller picture that it was in Christ that God created in all things.
A. Wisdom’s Past
Wisdom is seen as the Master Archetict and the Greatest Artist in Creation.
“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work,
the first of his acts of old.
Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
Old Testament Survey Series: The Wisdom Literature and Psalms D. Wisdom’s Origins (8:22–26)
Yahweh “possessed” (qanah) wisdom “at the beginning of his way,” even “before his works of old,” i.e., before the process of creation. The meaning of the verb in this context is hotly disputed. Some modern versions translate the term “created.”
Debates in church history have been over whether this refers to Christ or not. Arius, an early church heretic, denied the divinity of Christ using this verse. This is a personification of wisdom, but the NT gives us a fuller picture that it was in Christ that God created in all things.
When we think about beginning, we think about the early chapters of take this verse to mean that wisdom was with God before the creation and wisdom was installed, set up, before the world was created.
Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary Wisdom’s Role in Creation (8:22–31)
wisdom is both older than the universe, and fundamental to it. Not a speck of matter (26b), not a trace of order (29), came into existence but by wisdom.
B. Wisdom’s Creativity
When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
Proverbs 8:
Proverbs 8:
Notice that there was nothing but chaos. And Wisdom help shaped what we see today. From the depths, to the mountains, to the fields, to the heavens. Everything was created by a wise God. And God used wisdom to create everything.
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 8
Describes the visible horizon line—the place where the sun rises and sets (compare Job 26:10). This language reflects the ancient Near Eastern belief that the horizon line, where the ocean and sky meet, is the start of a solid dome that surrounds the skies and holds in place the waters above the skies (Prov 8:28–29; compare Gen 1:6 and note).
He tells the sea when to stop. He commands the ocean waves to stop at a certain point. We know the personification of wisdom points to the the full expression of wisdom in the NT.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Wisdom was in eternity past, before creation, the instrument of creation, and now we see wisdom delighting over creation.
C. Wisdom’s Delight
then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,
rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man.
Proverbs 8:
The Christian God is not some God removed from his creation or even part of his creation where he is to be worshipped. He is above, yet intimately involved with his creation.
Proverbs personifies wisdom, Jesus Christ is the full revelation and embodienment of wisdom.
Wisdom was laughing and seeing God make nothing turn into something wonderful and beautiful. Wisdom is rejoicing before God and wisdom is rejoicing in man because man bears the image of God
Why did God create the world?
To admire wisdom as Christians is to admire our Christ.
He created the world to display his full splendor and glory. Not because he was needy, but to show forth his worth so that all creation might reflect and radiate all the glory back to God.
God created the world to display his infinite happiness and glory and we get to participate in that world.
The Christian God is not some God removed from his creation or even part of his creation where he is to be worshipped. He is above, yet intimately involved with his creation.
And wisdom rejoice in man. Man bears the image of God. He reflects the likeness of God.
Christian—Admire and Worship God by his wonderful design of the universe. Sometimes we need to put our smartphone down just to behold the beauty of God in creation.
We must not only stop to listen to wisdom, but sometimes we must stop to see wisdom in what God has made.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Non-Christian—We were not put here by chance. There is a wonderfully wise God who made you and wants to rejoice over you if you will listen and love Him. This God not only displayed his wisdom in what he has made, but in Who He has sent, Jesus Christ. So if you want to be wise, look at Christ.
Transition: Wisdom will enrich your life if you listen to her, value her, admire her, but finally commit to her.
IV. Commit to Wisdom (vv. 32-36)
IV. Commit to Wisdom (vv. 32-36)
Wisdom takes commitment. Any relationship takes commitment to work. Whether you are an employee, or church member, or married, or just a Christian, it takes commitment if you are going to see its benefits.
“And now, O sons, listen to me:
blessed are those who keep my ways.
Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord,
Solomon tells his son again, listen to me. Blessed, or happy are those who keep/obey my ways.
Listen to instruction and be wise. Don’t neglect it.
Blessed is the one who is eager to obtain wisdom “watching daily at my gates”, standing besides my door.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary 8:35–36
The word for “favor,” rāṣôn, is used 14 times in Proverbs, and means “acceptance, goodwill, or approval.” It comes from the verb rāṣâh, “to be pleased with.” Rejecting
Here, the picture is of a lover anxiously waiting at the door of his beloved, anticipating her return (cf. Song of Sol. 2:8–10).
You have to want wisdom. And wisdom has come down to you in a person, Jesus Christ.
We know what wisdom points to: Jesus Christ.
We know what wisdom points to: Jesus Christ.
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
The Bible Knowledge Commentary 8:35–36
The word for “favor,” rāṣôn, is used 14 times in Proverbs, and means “acceptance, goodwill, or approval.” It comes from the verb rāṣâh, “to be pleased with.” Rejecting
Here, the picture is of a lover anxiously waiting at the door of his beloved, anticipating her return (cf. Song of Sol. 2:8–10).
Wisdom is pictured as a the tree of life. We ate from the tree of death when Satan offered a counterfeit wisdom.. Jesus took the tree of death to offer us a heavenly wisdom and access to the tree of life.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.
Your life will be enriched if you listen to Christ. If you value Him above everything else. If you admire and commit to Him.
He will not only give you blessing in this life, but the life to come.
Christian—This is the life of discipleship isn’t it? It is listening to Christ in his Word? It is valuing Him because of His precious redeeming work? It is admiring Him because He is not only a man, but God in the flesh who reconciled us to the Father. And he went to the cross for our sins, because he delights in us, so that he can give a people to His Father. It is committing to Him.
but he who fails to find me injures himself;
all who hate me love death.”
Fails, is to miss the the mark. He that sinneth against wisdom will injure Himself, because only wisdom can bring us to God.
Sin will lead you to death, but Wisdom incarnate, will lead you to life.
Will you commit to wisdom?
If you are not a Christian, you can do that today by turning from your sins, and looking to wisdom of God displayed in Jesus Christ, and committing to follow Him as you take up your cross and follow Him.
Jesus Christ is the One who brings all blessings of God into our life if we listen to Him, value Him, admire Him, and commit to Him.
May the blessings of Jesus Christ be upon every member who is humble enough to heed his call, who diligently pursues Him, and will commit to Him no matter what.