Intro: During this Lenten season, every devotional will begin with a quote from C.S. Lewis (author and theologian), followed by two readings: 1) A passage from the Psalter and 2) a writing from one of the Old Testament prophets or New Testament authors. We will look at both passages as a whole through the fulfilling work and wisdom of Christ—Truth.
While the world is fleeting and those who remain attached to it will never know True wisdom, the Heavenly realm is steadfast for Eternity for those who give their lives, through salvation, to Christ Jesus and as the children of God, they may call on their Father’s wisdom at any moment.
“If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.”
(C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)
Asaph, who is said to have written psalm 74, stresses the importance of God’s sovereign authority over all of creation. Within today’s passage, he uses many examples of God’s divine power, strength, and wisdom. The first example is when God parted the Red Sea for Moses and the Israelites to protect them from the Egyptian army. I don’t know about you…but, when I reflect back on my life, I can testify that God has protected me SO many times. I did absolutely nothing to deserve His covering of grace, but I want people to know that His protection is available for them too, because God longs for all of His creation to return Home to Him for eternity.
Psalm 74:12-17 (NLT)
A psalm of Asaph.
12 You, O God, are my king from ages past,
bringing salvation to the earth.
13 You split the sea by your strength
and smashed the heads of the sea monsters.
14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan
and let the desert animals eat him.
15 You caused the springs and streams to gush forth,
and you dried up rivers that never run dry.
16 Both day and night belong to you;
you made the starlight and the sun.
17 You set the boundaries of the earth,
and you made both summer and winter.
In studying Godly wisdom, I found that “this invaluable virtue is deep, immeasurable, priceless, and rare”. So, how do we gain more of God’s wisdom? Well, James tells us that “if you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” (1:5) In other words, we must be praying for wisdom all of the time. Paul tells us in today’s passage that human wisdom is foolish, and God’s wisdom is what will save us as believers. Through our salvation Christ has been made wisdom for us, and thus, we must call on His wisdom to guide us ALL of the time!
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (NLT)
18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19 As the Scriptures say,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”
20 So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22 It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.
24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, there are no human words sufficient enough to thank You for grafting me into Your vast creation. Thank You for forgiving me when I have dismissed that tremendous gift. Please cover and guide me with Your wisdom each day. Earthly or human wisdom is no longer attractive to me. I want to keep growing with You, Jesus, and understanding more of Your Truth as uncovered by Your wisdom within me. I ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.