50 Days of Wisdom
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Wisdom is a skill in living that begins with fearing God, then progresses to guarding your mind, choosing your companions, controlling your body, monitoring your words, pursuing your work, managing your money, and loving your neighbor. Very simple. But that’s it. And when you’ve done that, you’ve learned wisdom. It’s vital to be taught wisdom. For example, as a father, if I fail to teach my son to fear God, the devil will teach him to hate God. If I fail to teach my son to guard his mind, the devil will teach him to have an open mind. If I fail to teach my son to obey his parents, the devil will teach him to rebel and break his parents’ hearts. If I fail to teach my son to select his companions carefully, the devil will choose them for him. If I fail to teach my son to control his body, the devil will gladly teach him to give it completely over to his lusts. If I fail to teach my children to enjoy speech that is honorable to God, the devil will fill their mouths with filth. If I fail to teach my children to pursue their work, the devil will make them lazy. If I fail to teach them to manage their money, the devil will teach them to waste it on riotous living. If I fail to teach them to love their neighbor, the devil will gladly teach them to love only themselves. And the only reason I can pass on all this wisdom to my children is because God has graciously made it available through the Bible.
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The Purpose of Trials
A part of being human means that we are going to go through trials. Psalm 23 says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.” Yes, trials will come. But our confidence is in God and His holy purposes. Trials can come to us through various means and with several purposes in mind. First of all, trials come to test the strength of our faith. And in one sense, we ought to be thankful for trials, because they assist us in the inventory of our own faith. That’s very helpful. I always want to know where my faith is so that it can be stronger, because the stronger my faith, the more likely I am to be useful to God. Secondly, we must recognize that trials come to humble us, especially when we are blessed in places of spiritual service, lest we think more confidently of our spiritual strength than we should, and we start to feel that we’re invincible. Third, the Lord also brings trials into our lives to wean us from worldly things, which are utterly unable to solve any real problems or to provide any real resources in a time of stress. Fourth, trials call us to an eternal hope because they tend to make us want to go to heaven. Therefore, as we go through trials, they give us greater affection for what is eternal. They help us long for the eternal city. They set our affections on things above. That’s very important spiritually because it makes us think about divine and heavenly things. Fifth, trials also serve a very important purpose because they reveal what we really love. The Lord will test you through trials to see who you really love, whether you love Him with all your heart and all your soul. So going through trials reveals what you truly love. Sixth, trials teach us to value the blessing of God. Trials come to put us through suffering, that we may obey in the suffering and then receive the full blessing of God. Seventh, suffering enables us to assist others during their suffering. We go through trials for the purpose of being able to help others. How wonderful that God allows us to learn by experience and assist others. Finally, eighth, trials come to develop enduring strength for greater usefulness. God has His purpose in trials, and what it’s to do is to give us greater strength. So, let me sum it up. What is God’s purpose as He tests us? First, to test the strength of our faith that we might know where our strength is or isn’t. Secondly, to humble us lest we think more confidently of our spiritual strength than we should. Thirdly, to wean us away from worldly things. Fourthly, to call us to a heavenly hope so that we live in the above and not in the below. Fifthly, to reveal what we really love. Sixthly, to teach us to value the blessing of God and to appreciate it as it comes to us out of the times of suffering. Seventh, to enable us to help others in their trials and to bear one another’s burdens. And eighth, to develop enduring strength for greater usefulness, so that God can thrust us into greater places of ministry and effectiveness. Now aren’t these all worthwhile purposes? And they all fit into God’s plan, by His grace. Repent and believe! GTY.org (59-5) - The Purpose of Trials – 59-5
Today's Wisdom
March 25, 2026
Day: 884
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My name is Mark Paul from Wauchula, Florida, and like the Apostle Peter said in 2 Peter 1:14, “I know that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent." Consequently, my goal is to leave a legacy that will continue to advance the kingdom of God long after I have departed. In other words, bear fruit for eternity. And by simply reading and sharing my free eBooks, you too become contributors to the advancement of His kingdom. Thank you for partaking in this endeavor, and I look forward to greeting you on heaven's shore.
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