CHRIST GIVES US WISDOM

“But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30

Christ is infinite source of wisdom for those who choose Him. The books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes – we could agree that they are books specialized in wisdom – says,

“For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.” Proverbs 8:11

“Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.” Ecclesiastes 2:13

Without being in Christ, we can be very intelligent but we can be very foolish at the same time.

Let us remember Adam and Eve. They were highly intelligent and acted very foolish as they acted self-determined instead of trusting God. My being ‘in Christ’ determines whether I am intelligent AND wise. “Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.” Ecclesiastes 7:19

Always keep the promise found in James 1:5 in mind,

“But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom without criticizing you.” NCV

CHRIST GIVES US HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS

Christ was righteous and He gave us His righteousness. This means that the righteousness lost at the fall of humankind (and because of our sins) can be regained through Him. A valuable text is Romans 8:3,4,

“God ... sending His own Son ... condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Please note that the text says that righteousness is fulfilled through Jesus in those who walk in the Spirit. This is how Christ lives in us.

Dennis Smith wrote,

“Righteousness by faith has a justifying and sanctifying aspect. Righteousness means that God frees the believer from sin and the penalty and clothes the repentant sinner with Christ’s righteousness (complete obedience).” Dennis Smith, 40 Days: Prayers and Devotions to Revive Your Experience With God, book 2, p.18

That’s when the most marvelous trade takes place, Christ takes my guilt and gives me His righteousness. Through this trade we stand before the Father as if we had never sinned,

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12

By God’s grace we can walk through life free of guilt. Although we need to harvest the consequences of our choices, we can be sure of a new start. That’s what God’s grace offers us, Christ’s righteousness!

CHRIST WANTS TO MAKE US BETTER

Have you ever heard the word sanctification? What does it mean?

“True sanctification means perfect love, perfect obedience, perfect conformity to the will of God.” Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p.565

It means getting always better – and God is the standard! Is it possible to get there?

We can’t do it alone and we don’t need to do it alone! Christ offers us Salvation and it involves forgiveness of all guilt, freedom from the bondage of sin and eternal life in God’s glory. Not only that, He promised the constant presence of His Spirit helping us!

Since Jesus already paid the ransom with His sacrifice, Salvation means we can look forward – traumas of the past, problems that happened, old heart and mind inclinations, addiction, pain, etc – they don’t have power over life anymore. In Christ we are free to live abundantly, not as slaves.

During the time of slave trafficking in Africa, the prisoners had an iron collar locked around their necks and were then linked to the other prisoners with a chain. Occasionally one of these poor people was ransomed along the way. As soon as the ransom was paid, the prisoner was freed from his iron collar. Jesus has ransomed us — He has paid for us.

CHANGE OF MIND, CHANGE OF ATTITUDE

The freedom Jesus granted us will change our mind-set, that is developed step by step over time. We can claim Philippians 2:5 when we pray,

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

When we allow Christ in, then He will let His manner of thinking and acting unfold in us. We will love the way He loves. We will keep away from the things He doesn’t like.

That change of mind will result in what Ephesians 2:10 says,

“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

The life God has prepared for you entails good works — this means, God has a purpose for you! By fulfilling three things come into play – according to the book Steps to Personal Revival entitled “Spirit-Filled Co-Workers of Jesus — How Can I Become That?”,

1. A constant healing of my egoism because I work for others

2. Others receive blessings through me

3. The Lord sends great blessings back to me

Being used by God will grow our faith; our practical, mental, and spiritual abilities will develop, our joy and strength will increase, and in the process, we are working for God’s Kingdom.

God’s ingenious plan benefits all. Don’t you want to take your part accepting God’s call for your life?

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Which would you choose today: Wisdom, Righteousness or Making you better?

2. Why is it so hard to get away from guilt and accept Christ righteousness?

3. Exercise, JESUS AND ME WATCHING MY DAY: close your eyes by the end of the day and imagine you seated in a sofa with Jesus, reviewing your day in a screen from the moment you woke up. If you give Jesus the opportunity to make observations to help you get better, what would be those observations? (Remember His compassion and unconditional love dealing with everyone He ever met).