“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

Wisdom comes to us from God. It comes as we understand the absolute nature of God. He is the one who created everything. When we look at creation, we can see its beauty and its variety. We can also see its extreme power in the storms of nature from the hurricanes and tornados to the floods and fires and on to the earthquakes and volcanoes. We also see its beauty as in a rose opening in full view, or the fields ready for harvest. We can step into a clear night as we see the majestic stars appear as they almost pop after the sun has set, and the black backdrop enhances their beauty. All created through God’s wisdom. We can see God’s wisdom looking at our own bodies because we are able to move, to think, and to respond. We have the gentleness of touch and the power to lift. We have been given minds to think and to reason. Then the wonder of our emotions to respond to one another with laughs, tears, empathy, encouragement, and a host of many more.

In Proverbs the writer reminds us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. To fear Him is to know His power. That is His ability to do whatever He desires.  After he had put his faith in Jesus the Christ, James, His younger brother, son of both Mary and Joseph, wrote about God’s wisdom. “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17) God’s power can be used to do anything. Through Jesus, He has shown us His power to reveal to us His love. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

His wisdom is full of love. Paul describes God’s love. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) This is the love which Jesus demonstrated as He went to the cross to redeem us. He gave His life as the ultimate act of love. He had said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17) All of this happened through the wisdom of God. He used His power to bring to us forgiveness, life, and eternity with Him.

We are to understand the power of God. When we know His power, as people we should fear Him. When He shows us His power in love, then we can come to Him and receive His love. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

In the Love of Jesus

Michael Block