To be "friends of God and prophets," we must be wise (Wis 7:27). To live in God's love (Jn 15:10), we must be wise (Wis 7:28). To defeat wickedness rather than be defeated by it, we must be wise (Wis 7:30). Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah and His people would have "a spirit of wisdom" (Is 11:2). Christ crucified is "the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor 1:24).
Are you wise? Fools often think they are wise. Therefore, to prove we are wise we need more than our opinion or the opinions of other fools. A telltale sign of wisdom is our readiness for the end of the world, Jesus' final coming, and Judgment Day. For example, the five wise virgins were wise because they were always ready for the Bridegroom's return (Mt 25:1ff).
Are you ready for Jesus' return? Are you crying out with the Christians of the last twenty centuries "Maranatha!" ("Come, Lord Jesus!" (Rv 22:20)? If you are ready for Jesus' return now, you are probably wise in most other areas of your life. If you are not ready for Jesus' return now, you are probably foolish in many other ways. However, you can repent and give your life to Jesus. Then you will change from a fool to a wise man or woman. Wise up.
| PRAYER: | Father, "give me Wisdom, the attendant at Your throne, and reject me not from among Your children" (Wis 9:4). |
| PROMISE: | "The reign of God is already in your midst. [Jesus] said to the disciples: 'A time will come when you will long to see one day of the Son of Man but will not see it.' " –Lk 17:21-22 |
| PRAISE: | St. Margaret of Scotland, by the grace of God, was "the ideal queen and mother." |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College