Go Get the Gift

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” (James 1:5-7)

“…if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. “  (Proverbs 2: 1-5)

God’s goodness offers us what we cannot possibly have without Him, and yet we don’t benefit from it without some element of our participation. Even the astonishing gift of salvation must be received before we are saved, with the groundwork for that amazing gift requiring something from us.  “If you confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  (Romans 10:9)

That’s because it is about a relationship with God.  Religion asks us to follow rules and gt in line.  But God invites us to know Him and be joined with Him and to see His goodness as we take risks to believe He is trustworthy.  Father, Son, and Spirit offer us all the best…the guidance of a wise and loving Dad, the sacrifice, passion, and adventure of a Lover, and the joy and purposefulness of life with a Companion who helps us recognize the opportunities of the Kingdom that unfold in our day, and delight in what this Family is about.

But look at the passages again and see the action words there.  Look at the “ifs and then” in these verses.  Apparently gaining wisdom requires our attention, focus, time, and responsiveness.  The relationship and mystery of choice and believing and discovery is an on-going one, the depths of which we will never exhaust.  We can learn to know the mind and ways of God.  It is truly a gift.  Lean in to get it.