WATCH HOW YOU WALK

Ephesians 5:15 ESV

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

Two birds fly over our nation’s deserts: One is the hummingbird and the other is the vulture. Vultures find the rotting meat of the desert, because that is what they look for. They thrive on that diet. Hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead, they look for the colorful blossoms of desert plants. Vultures fill themselves with things dead and gone. Hummingbirds fill themselves with freshness and life. Each bird finds what it is looking for. We all do.

That is the essence of Paul’s teaching: In life, there are two kinds of believers. One follows foolishness, the other wisdom. Some fill themselves with old habits: others with the newness of life in Christ. In the desert of this world there are scavengers who are angry and ungrateful, and those who hum grateful hymns of thanksgiving. The irony is that you always find what you are looking for.

1- THE SOURCE OF WISDOM.

James 1:5 ESV

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Matthew 7:7 ESV

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

1 Kings 3:9–12 ESV

9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” 10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

1 KINGS 3:

2- THE CHARACTERISTIC OF WISDOM.

Proverbs 12:15 ESV

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 14:12 ESV

12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

3- THE ENDURANCE OF WISDOM.

MATTHEW 7:24-

Matthew 7:24–27 ESV

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

4- THE TRUTH OF WISDOM.

John 8:31–36 ESV

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

JOHN 8:31-