education | considering the word

Pr. 25:11: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”

In Acts chapter 4, after healing a lame man, Peter and John had been arrested for preaching about Jesus and His resurrection. The next day they were brought before the rulers and asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” vs. 8: “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit said to them…”

vs. 13: “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”

The words Peter fitly spoke, through the power of the Holy Spirit, were like apples of gold in settings of silver. It was even more of a testimony to the rulers that he and John were uneducated and untrained. Because of this, and the words that had been spoken, they marveled. “And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”

We don’t have to be Pastors, Bishops, certified teachers, or even seminary students to speak of Jesus and His resurrection. John 15 tells us to abide in Him. Simply being with Jesus gives us what we need to do His work.

When we spend time in God’s presence, we are not only being fed His wisdom, but also strengthened, equipped, and more confident in Him and who we are in Him. When questioned, Peter didn’t have to pull out his credentials in order to be heard or set free. He who had been with Jesus, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit did the work.

Vs. 14 says, that after this and “seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.” God took care of everything. Peter and John simply did what they were called to do and the Lord did the rest. The rulers could say nothing against it.

The lesson for us: Spend time with Jesus

Learning from the Master,

jamie

Pr. 22:19: “So that your trust your trust may be in the Lord, I have instructed you today, even you.”

Years ago I was hooked on a show about clothes and makeovers. It was pretty inspiring, and funny, to boot. I eventually noticed that I was overly worried about the clothes, or lack of clothes, in my closet and I quit watching the show. I am now content again with the blessings God has given me.

Any subject in which you invest your time instructs you, and draws your focus. When I watch cooking shows a lot, I think about food and cooking a lot of the time. When I research health and wellness, my thoughts tend to revolve around those things. When I listen to music, my thoughts begin to be influenced by the words and ideas that I hear. I must be careful what I allow to instruct me.

Have you considered the purpose of those things you are allowing to instruct you? Whatever I immerse myself in becomes something on which I focus and I notice my thoughts returning to them over and over. I find the same to be true of the Word. When I immerse myself in the Word of God, my thoughts remain focused on the Lord, on His promises, on His commands, on His wisdom, and on His faithfulness. The Word runs through my mind throughout the day and I see applications of the Word in my daily life.

In whom or in what do you want to place your trust? This verse tells us that the instructions are given so that our trust may be in the Lord. If you want your trust to be fully in the Lord, then you must continually be instructed by Him.

When I was watching the show about clothes so often, I began to lose confidence. Why is that? I dare say I was being instructed to trust in clothing, money, and outward appearances. I don’t think there is anything wrong with dressing nicely or buying nice things, but I noticed within myself the feelings of discontent that indicated to me that I was beginning to trust in something that can just be thrown away.

God’s faithfulness endures forever. He is the same God yesterday, today, and forevermore. If we are going to receive instruction, I think it wise that it be the instruction of the pure, proven, and living Word of God. Certainly, there is nothing wrong with learning new things, but when our lives become about things other than God, we are trusting in dust and ash. God’s faithfulness proves that trusting in Him is not only beneficial, it is eternal.

If you truly want your trust to be in the Lord, the God Most High, the Creator and Sustainer of this universe, then you must be instructed by Him. He is wisdom. He is peace. He is the Comforter. He is the Lord of all. Open up your heart and mind to His instruction, and reject any instruction that causes you to trust in lesser things.

Taking notes,

jamie