The Word of God for wisdom:
Proverbs 15:4 (NLT)
4 Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
The Word of God for inspiration:
Psalm 108:1-3 (NLT)
1 My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!
2 Wake up, lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song.
3 I will thank you, LORD, among all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations.
The Word of God for encouragement:
John 7:14-15 (ESV)
14 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching.
15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, "How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?"
The brothers of Jesus did not understand who he was or the nature of his mission. They wanted him to go to Jerusalem to put on a show of his miraculous works.
John 7:3 (ESV)
3 So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing.
However, Jesus knew what was more needful for the people attending the feast. He knew that they needed teaching more than they needed to see a show of his miracles. The people needed to hear a word from God.
The response of the Jews to the teaching of Jesus was to attack him. If critics can't refute the message, they will attack the messenger.
John 7:15 (ESV)
15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, "How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?"
Jesus defended his message with the truth. In addition, he gave them three ways to test his message. This is his defense.
John 7:16-18 (ESV)
16 So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
17 If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.
18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.
My prayer:
Father God, my dear Father, help us to use the primary tool for learning spiritual truth, which is obedience to the word and will of God. Father God, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit of God to be our tutor. Father, I thank you that with the aid of the Holy Spirit, we can know and do the will of God. Amen.
John 14:26 (ESV)
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Hosea 6:3 (ESV)
3 Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth."
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1 Timothy 4:4-5 (HCSB)
4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,
5 since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.
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