By Adam Dooley
Englewood Baptist Church
If you fly a lot, you know that much of what happens on your journey can appear senseless and frustrating.
On one occasion I sat at the terminal gate for hours after loading a plane. Another trip taught me that being number 43 for takeoff means waiting for a few hours on the runway. More than once I’ve been rerouted away from my final destination to another city. I have circled Memphis in the air numerous times without getting permission to land.
From the ground, these actions appear to be the result of incompetence and poor planning. The view from the air traffic control tower, however, is much different.
Red dots covering screens represent aircraft on the ground and in the air. Ground control monitors gates, taxiways, holding areas and empty runways in order to assure that every arriving and departing plane has its proper place. Air control gives clearance for takeoff while protecting the empty space around each plane. Monitoring the precise moment incoming planes will arrive is also key.
Lack of insight
Though we travelers cannot see the interconnectivity, what happens in Atlanta can affect Dallas, which impacts Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and virtually every destination on the map. Our limited perspective feeds our annoyance largely because we falsely assume that our limited knowledge and experience are all that matters.
The same burden is often true about life.
So much of what happens in our fallen world is both puzzling and bewildering. Sometimes we question, doubt and even challenge God due to our lack of understanding. The greater the heartache, the more quickly we jump to conclusions about what the Lord is or is not doing in our lives. Despite our assumptions to the contrary, godly wisdom does not enable us to grasp the WHY behind every WHAT.
Unfortunately, we lack the insight of heaven’s air traffic control. Biblical wisdom is more like being stuck in an airport through the night, but still trusting that there is a good reason for it; still believing that such delays are for the safety of every weary traveler; and still being respectful to those around you in pressure situations.
Stated simply, true wisdom results in obedience to God despite what we see and what we feel. It’s applying eternal truth to ordinary circumstances when what we really want to do is panic. Wisdom is not understanding so that you can obey; it is obeying even when you don’t understand.
Thankfully, God is willing to grant such wisdom to any Christ follower who asks (James 1:5). The Lord will not chastise you when you seek guidance. He will not remind you of all your past mistakes. God has no intention of shaming you when you need direction. The only key is that you turn to Him as the only source of true wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 2:3). Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
How does the Lord reveal the treasures of wisdom to us? Primarily, through the pages of Holy Scripture. The Apostle Paul instructs us, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another” (Col. 3:16).
The psalmist celebrated, “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes (Ps. 19:7–8).”
How can you know for sure that God’s wisdom governs your life? Both good deeds and gentleness are primary markers (James 3:13). To be more specific, the Bible explains that being pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, unwavering, without hypocrisy and full of mercy are the practical expressions of wise living.
To contrast, the Bible also lays bare the devilish lifestyle that contradicts heavenly prudence. Those who live with bitter jealousy, prize selfish ambition and war against the truth do not possess the wisdom that comes from above (James 3:15).
These evil expressions are just as demonic as the worldview that motivates them.
Hell whispers, “It’s all about you!” “Do what feels good.” “Find your truth.” Ultimately, those who profess to be wise in and of themselves become fools (Rom. 1:22).
Right use of knowledge
The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once remarked, “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.”
May God give us the grace to KNOW and DO in light of His wisdom.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Adam Dooley is pastor of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee, and author of Hope When Life Unravels.
You need not be dismayed
By Karen Moore
karenmooreauthor.com
Most of us wrestle a bit with the idea of courage. We get the idea of courage, I suspect quite well, until we face something that requires us to dig deep down in our courage bucket and see what’s there. Of course, sometimes we don’t realize how much courage we have until we have to tap into our own reserve.
We live in a world where people are anxious about nearly everything and wondering how to face each day with courage.
Joshua 1:9 gives us some encouragement. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
We should keep this Scripture handy because we can use it every day. In my case, I like to start it from the last phrase. I like to say, “Because God is with you wherever you go, you need not be dismayed or frightened. You can be strong and courageous.”
Courage to face today
Knowing God is with me is the real message. It’s the part that reminds me that no matter what is going on, my strength comes from the Lord. My work is in His hands. My steps are orchestrated by His love and faithfulness.
That means I can shed the weight of fear and step into the light. That means I can face today with gusto whether I’m ready or not. That means I am not alone, no matter what I might have to do.
Let’s help each other be more courageous, more certain that we never face anything alone, for God is with us wherever we may go. Be of good courage, for God sees you and holds you in the palm of His hand.
Life is all about relationships and not only your best friends. What about your least liked
co-worker or neighbor or that particular ethnic group? How do your relationships compare to God’s compassion for you and everyone you meet?
George Yates
SONC.A.R.E. Ministries
Springfield, Kentucky
“God wants us to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. He has already overcome similar trials and tribulations and will give us the power to do the same. He waits only to be asked.”
Billy Graham
You are a steward of each day. It may be remembered with regret and bitterness, or with fondness and joy. Choose your attitudes well!
Richard Blackaby
@richardblackaby on X
In an old biography of William McKinley, the author noted the president’s assassination was on Friday, Sept. 14, 1901, “as were the two previous assassinations on Friday.” It was Good Friday, April 14, 1865, when Lincoln was shot in Washington, and Friday, July 2, 1880, when President Garfield was shot in D.C.
Then it struck me that the terrible event that traumatized my generation — the assassination of President Kennedy — was on an awful Friday in Dallas, Nov. 22, 1963.
This is one of the inexplicable occurrences of history but serves to remind us that we live in a dangerous world.
The recent attempts on the life of former President Trump were a sobering affirmation of the evil that stalks our planet.
The Apostle Paul wrote that “supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority” (1 Tim. 2:1). The highest authority in his day was Caesar Nero, a vile and despicable man. If Paul prayed for Nero, surely we can pray for our leaders.
I think we must pray especially for our president.
We pray for safety.
We pray for wisdom.
We pray for influence (for the purposes of God).
Michael J. Brooks, pastor
Siluria Baptist Church
Alabaster, Alabama
“I’ve always liked and felt the call to preach,” said Crawford Williams, who has continued to minister past retirement by leading weekly chapel services at The Glen assisted living community in Shreveport, Louisiana.
“And that’s been a burden to preach regularly and often. Whenever I have an opportunity, I take it to preach on heaven, to preach on hell and to preach on Jesus over and over, and how to be saved, have assurance and to be salt of the earth and light of the world.”
“The quilts bring joy to the boys and girls. It helps them feel included. It helps them feel special,” said Julie Hernandez, disability ministry director for Heights Baptist Church in Alvin, Texas.
“It helps meet their needs and meet them where they are, whether it’s in the sanctuary or in the sensory room.”
Hernandez is referring to the fidget blankets that volunteers, known as the “ladies of Camp Builders” — who accompany their husbands to projects organized by Texans on Mission Camp Builders — made for special needs children at the church.
