Wisdom part 2
More and more I'm coming to understand that there really are two "realms." The world-- the appearance realm, the surface realm, the visible realm-- and the Kingdom-- the Spirit realm, the deep realm, the invisible, eternal realm. And look at where wisdom falls: "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom" (Psalm 51:6). Everything connects on the Spirit to Spirit, holy to holy level. The deep calls out to the depe. Jesus said, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). Another way to say what I'm trying to say is that a seed can only produce after it's own kind. Apple seeds can only produce apples. Love can only come from the God who IS love. Wisdom can only come from the wise One. In the hidden part HE shall make me to know wisdom. And just for the record, let's see what the hidden part is. "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" (1 Peter 3:4). The inner man. The hidden man of the heart. The meek and quiet spirit that can be still and know that GOD is God. Know that God is LOVE. And don't mistake meekness for weakness either. Meekness is simply strength that's under control. Knowing that you CAN do anything, but also knowing that you don't HAVE TO. That's wisdom. It's where the head meets the heart. Where what our head is telling us and where our heart is leading us matches up. That's the safest place you can be; standing on the Rock and not being shaken. Using your head, but following your heart. Loving people the way THEY need to be loved, instead of trying to force-feed them YOUR particular brand. I really think we can get into some sticky situations when we misinterpret "the golden rule." Treating someone the way you want to be treated doesn't mean treating someone as if they were you. I like Mt. Dew. But if I think that's a good way to love everybody... I'm wrong. Because some people don't like Mt. Dew. So I can't assume that what would make ME happy would make YOU happy. I have to be sensitive to YOUR needs, and wants, and desires. I have to be wise. Because while love IS the answer to every problem, love comes in MANY shapes and forms. It's like the Tree of Life in Revelation 22:2 that bears twelve manners of fruit, one for each month. I don't believe more than one TYPE of fruit can come from the same tree. The Tree of Life bears the fruit of the Spirit--which is love--period. But there is love for every month. Love for every season. Twelve MANNERS of fruit. Twelve MANIFESTATIONS of love. What's that book? The Five Languages of Love? People give and receive love differently. But it's all love. And it all comes from deep within. From the hidden part--the heart. That's where love lives because that's where Jesus--God in the flesh, love in a body--lives. And when you're AWARE of that love living within you, when you know it and believe it, that's when it comes out naturally. That's when you start to be humble. Not thinking less of yourself, but simply thinking of yourself less. Thinking of others more. Thinking about what would make THEM happy. That's the head meeting the heart. That's sacrificial love. That's laying your life down for your friends. That's being wise, and understanding the truth in the inward parts. Letting what's inward come out!