T5+: Wisdom of the Elders

Most cultures hold the advice of their elders in very high regard. Young people go to an older person for wisdom and guidance in all areas of their lives. This is the offer of an organization called Elder Wisdom Circle. According to their Web site, the organization is made up of senior citizens from all over North America who answer requests for advice. it's like having a cyber grandparent to go to for help on everything from relationships to money problems.

Sadly, not all young people value the advice and wisdom of elders.

The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders (1 King 12:13).

King Rehoboam's choice cost him dearly. Because he didn't listen to the wisdom of his elders, much of his kingdom rejected him as king.

God has placed elders in your life to help guide you into making good decisions. They've experienced and learned from life; you can learn from their successes and failures. The catch is that you have to ask them for the advice and then choose to take it. Think about the people you know who are older than you. Consider what you can learn from them.

There are so many elders that I look up to and that I have been mentored by that I may go to when I need advice. Aside from the Lord God, He has placed people in my life that I may be covered under.

Father God, I thank you for my elders. These people are such as my parents, Pastor Ray, Delray, Danford, Dustin, and any other people that you have placed in my life. I thank you for them, and I know you have blessed me so much through them. Continue to put Godly people in my life and use them to guide me in your will. I thank you for this word that you have spoken to me and I give you all the praise and glory in Jesus name.
Amen.

Jesus Paid For Us

Matt 22:17-22
17Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

18But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, 20and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"

21"Caesar's," they replied.
Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

22When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.


Jesus showed them through an object lesson of paying taxes, but the scripture speaks more truth than just taxes. Jesus shows that Caesar is instilled in the coin, just like how Jesus is instilled in our lives.

Because we have Jesus in our lives, we should be like living sacrifices to Him. We should give of ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ. He has bought us with His blood and redeemed us for salvation.

Father, I love you Lord with all my heart and soul and mind. I know that you are a gracious God and that you have sacrificed your Son Christ Jesus for us. I thank you for your blood. Let my life be yours because I owe it to you. I give it to you as a living sacrifice. Use me in your will I pray in Jesus name.
Amen.

Jesus The Rock

Matt 21:
42Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures:
" 'The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes'?


Jesus is my capstone. He is the foundation what my faith. Because He died and rose on the third day, I put my faith in Him and Him alone.

There is no one else that we put our faith in than Christ Jesus. It is because of His grace and mercy that we are free from sin. I need to reaffirm this great verse that Jesus is the foundation of our faith.

Father, I thank you for your words of encouragement. I pray that your words never return void. I know that your are my Lord and my Savior. You are all that I stand on, and you are a great God, one that is powerful. I thank you for all these things and I pray that you continue to be the foundation of my life. I pray all these in Jesus name.
Amen.

A Servant's Heart

Matt 20:25-28
25Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."


Jesus uses the object lesson of slavery to point out the importance of humility. Like slaves, we must be willing to humble ourselves before the Lord and submit to the will of the Father. Jesus showed us this by His ultimate example on the cross, going even till death.

I must have the humility to humble myself before the Lord and to serve Him like a servant serves His master. It is with the heart that God wants us to do His will. I believe that our hearts intent to serve shows that we are able to be humble in God's eyes.

Father, Lord God Almighty, I know that you are the Lord of my life. I state that you are the God of all and the God of all that is to come. Take over in my life. I give my life to you. Let all things that I do be humble and be pleasing to you. I pray against anything that is not pleasing to you. Let my heart have a heart after your own. Let not self and flesh overcome the will I have to serve you. I pray that you be with me and bless me in this area of my life. I give you praise and glory in Jesus name.
Amen.

Inquire The Lord God

1 Chron 15:12-15
12 He said to them, "You are the heads of the Levitical families; you and your fellow Levites are to consecrate yourselves and bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. 13 It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the LORD our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way." 14 So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. 15 And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.


There is so much wisdom that is spoken through God. He knows the right ways of doing things. A lot of times, we are seeking advise, but we never ask God about it. Only if we follow His ways and seek His advise, then things will go according to His plans.

I need to ask the Lord what to do in all of my decisions. Many times things will go wrong because we rush into plans not directed by God. He knows the right path for us and we are foolish not to listen to Him.

Father, I know that you are abounding in wisdom. You know the way for my life. I pray in all my decisions that I seek you first. I want to have you lead in my life. I want to pray that your ways will guide me into a fruitful and fulfilling life. I thank you for your words. I pray all these in Jesus name.
Amen.