✝ Daily Encouragement (11/21/23) "The Wise Builder"
Published: Tue, 11/21/23
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Tuesday, November 21, 2023
 This Lancaster County Farm is on Grandview Road near Mount Joy.
This is a preserved farm, meaning there are restrictions on any changes or
development. We have these types of farms all though our area, including the land across and behind our home.
Click on photo for larger view
"The Wise
Builder"
Message summary: Let us resolve that we will apply godly wisdom as we, like a wise builder, build and keep on building our house upon the rock!
Listen to our message on your audio player.
"The wise man built his house upon the rock" (Matthew
7:24). "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12).
This week we have two framers working on our house, building the walls and
roof for our bedroom addition. They are working diligently although it's just a tad cool outside
today
and we have a forecast of rain. It was nice to see some walls go up yesterday! Today they are preparing to put the roof on which will require some modification to our existing house to support the center
beam to hold the roof up. Having closed in sides and a roof will be a big step in seeing the room closed in and then the inside work can begin regardless of weather.
A well known maxim in carpentry is "measure twice and cut once"
which saves a lot on making mistakes and wasting material. Another phrase I overheard as the men worked yesterday is "doublecheck" which is a wise practice for any builder, whether building a house or building a life.
As we go through life building our spiritual house on the rock we do well in
applying wisdom to "doublecheck" or better yet, check continually. The Bible says, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?" (2 Corinthians 13:5). The Amplified Bible states, "Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove
yourselves".
So let us examine ourselves, noting six characteristics of the genuinely wise in the
Bible
.
1) The genuinely wise build their life on
the foundation of hearing and practicing the teachings of Jesus. Yesterday's message reminded us of the vital importance of building our lives on a solid foundation by both hearing and obeying the words of Jesus. According to our Lord, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the
rock".
2) The genuinely wise seek Christ to
worship Him.
They are like the Magi in the Christmas story
. Their purpose in making the long trek from the east was forthright: we "have come to worship Him"
. In worship we declare our allegiance as we celebrate His supremacy and worth. In worship we recognize the Great One and our own neediness regardless of
our position in life. He alone is ultimately wise: "To the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen" (Romans 16:27).
Many of us have heard the phrase "Wise
Men Still Seek Him".* The genuinely wise still seek Him like the wise men from the east. They always have and always will. This wisdom is altogether different than the wisdom of the world.
3) The genuinely wise are very careful about how they live. "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise" (Ephesians 5:15). The apostle Paul speaks to those who seek Christ for wisdom. The wise live carefully whereas the unwise (foolish) live carelessly. It's not hard to find people living foolishly, the world is full of them!
4) The genuinely wise have a teachable
spirit.
"Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning"
(Proverbs 9:9).
A meaningful aspiration is to be a lifelong learner. This can apply to many interests but above all should be a quest to know God and His Word, growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter
3:18).
The wise may be among the elite and highly
educated according to worldly standards or they may not be. Some of the wisest people in this regard have little of the world's education. And bluntly speaking, many of the highly educated according to the world's standards are spiritually ignorant and foolish! Just look at the sheer evil and nonsense coming out of our supposedly "elite"
colleges.
5) The genuinely wise listen to advice.
"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice" (
Proverbs 12:15). One of the great dangers for all ages is the failure to seek out and listen to advice. So many people do what is right in their own eyes rather than seeking godly
counsel.
6) The genuinely wise control their
temper. "A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back"
(Proverbs 29:11). Today there are so many forms of "rage" as people do not control their temper. But a wise man quietly holds it back.
“A quick-tempered man acts foolishly"
(
Proverbs 14:17). James provides timeless advice on this matter,
“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God”
(
1:19–20).
Today let us determine that we will practice the characteristics of the
genuinely wise using the standards of the Bible. Our daily text expresses it so well:
"The wise man built his house upon the rock" (Matthew 7:24).
Let us resolve that we will apply godly wisdom as we build and keep on building our house upon the rock!
"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12).
Be encouraged
today,
(
Hebrews
3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, Your word teaches us to be very careful how we live, not as foolish but as wise followers of Jesus. In today's society of noncommittal attitudes or "whatever rings your bell" way of thinking (or non-thinking) we choose to be committed, sober, and vigilant about the way we live our lives in accordance to what we believe. We walk as sensible, thinking people with a due sense of responsibility, not as those who don't know or care about the meaning of life here or the life
yet to come. We care deeply about the temporal and eternal destiny of our lives and therefore we seek Your kingdom and Your righteousness above all.
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom
. In the name of Jesus we pray.
Amen.
"The Wise Man Built His House Upon The
Rock" Watch on YouTube This children's song was written in 1948 by Ann Omley. It's one of those songs many of us sang as children which reinforces a Bible truth and that we remember through life. In both classes (middle-aged and older) I taught this last Sunday we concluded the lesson by singing this song, motions and
all!
* John Keefer, now retired, was my pastor for many years and remains a friend. I recall him saying if he was ever to have a bumper sticker he would have one with this phrase. So I gave him a bumper sticker "Wise Men Still Seek Him".  Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
717-823-0592
Daily Encouragement Net
https://www.dailyencouragement.net
Mail service provider is aweber.com
495 Kraybill Church Rd
Mount Joy PA 17552
USA
Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options