Wise counsel

Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. – LUKE 2:46-52

I’ll never forget Jake. His legs seemed too thin and spindly to hold him against the current of the river. His patched and discolored waders looked older than he was. His fishing vest was tattered and held together with safety pins, his ancient hat was battered and sweat-stained; his antiquatedfly rod was scarred and taped.

I watched as he worked his way upstream to a patch of quiet water and began to cast. Then I took notice! He was fishing the same water I had fished earlier in the day and catching trout where I had caught none. Here was a man who could teach me a thing or two.

All I had caught none. Here was a man who could teach me a thing or two. All I had to do was ask.

We gain insight when we listen to those who have gone before and who know more than we do – insight we miss when our pride stands in the way. We’re able to learn from others when we humble ourselves and acknowledge how little we know. Willingness to learn is a mark of those who are truly wise.

Consider our Lord as a young boy, "sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions" (LUKE 2:46). PROVERBS 1:5 says that " a wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel." Let’s ask questions of those who’ve spent their lives seeking God’s wisdom.

– DAVID ROPER

There’s so much wisdom to be learned,

So many ways for me to grow,

Lord, I would listen like a child,

And learn what You would have me know.

– K. DE HAAN

READ: LUKE 2:46-52

If you think you know everything,

You have a lot to learn

The Bible in One Year

° GENESIS 40-42