If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

• James 1:5-6

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

• 1 Corinthians 1:20-25

But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

• Daniel 12:4

“We live in an age when one of the signs of the end times that Daniel gave is becoming clear knowledge is increasing exponentially (see Daniel 12:4). Worldly knowledge can be a great danger if it guides us only by logical thinking. Such wisdom can become a weapon in the hands of the enemy. I experienced that personally once at a congress of Communists in Ravensbruck. I had heard that a reunion of ex-prisoners was to be held, and I hoped to find friends there with whom I had suffered. Instead, forty thousand Communists attended.
“I listened to their talk, and such darkness fell upon me that when I left, I felt I no longer had God’s message. The Lord liberated me totally, and I received a strong message from Him. But there I saw how dangerous it is to be saturated in the atmosphere of natural wisdom without any knowledge of the foolishness of God, which is the highest wisdom.
“Earthly wisdom is not wrong. It is a gift from God when used for His glory. When we have surrendered our hearts and minds to Him, He will show us how to use that wisdom.”

• Corrie ten Boom, God is my Hiding Place

“God’s wisdom is my source of power.  It will navigate me through dark times.”

• Corrie ten Boom, Highlighted Quote

Boilerplate

In this new mini-series, I will be looking at a devotion that is said to be written by Corrie ten Boom.  Really, this devotion is like several that I had read.  They come from the writings of that person.  Thus, the prayers at the end may be the editor’s addition to what Corrie ten Boom actually wrote.

Each of these posts will include the suggested verses to read, a quote from the writing that came from a Corrie ten Boom book (five in all according to the copyright page, but no chapter in the book is given the specific book of origin).  I will also include the highlighted quote, similar to an internet quotation, and I will end with the quoted prayer for that devotion.

Discussion

Tante Corrie was overwhelmed by the darkness of what seemed to be worldly wisdom when she visited the USSR.  But God’s wisdom prevailed.

The Sunday school class where I teach is working through 1 Corinthians at the moment.  There is a lot of discussion regarding worldly wisdom and God’s wisdom in the letter.

She mentioned that Daniel 12 speaks of a rapid increase in knowledge near the End Times.  Knowledge is rapidly increasing.  There are so many ways to disseminate information, but there seems to be no discernable communication.

My grandson recently went to Jackson, TN to a sales meeting for the Future Farmers of America (FFA).  I have no clue what they were selling, but for three days leading up to the event, the three other people on the trip gave distracting information when all he needed was “Where do we meet and when?”  He would flop on the couch and talk about what he needed to wear, what they hoped to achieve, what the cost of the short trip would be, but never when and where to meet.  Two of his friends never answered the phone but sent cryptic texts.  The third friend knew no more than my grandson did.  Finally, the morning of the trip someone said to meet at the school at noon.  So much information, so little communication.

But do you feel overwhelmed by the world around you?  I do at times.

My recent trip to Tennessee was eventful.  I got COVID while down there.  The trip was extended so that I would not be contagious on my return.  I never got to visit my sister in Mississippi.

And I experienced a lot of information with no communication.

Yet, on my return trip to Pennsylvania, I greeted people with a smile.  I usually got smiles in return.  When I said that I wished them a great day, some replied that they wished the same for me.  One young dark-skinned man laughed and said my greeting had already made his day a great one.

God gives us a voice in the darkness.  We have to be bold to use it.

Closing Prayer

“Father, guide me by Your truth. Enlighten my eyes to see Your wisdom that often contradicts my own. Direct the course of my life by Your Spirit, so I may walk in unity with You. Guard my mind, as I submit every thought. Lead me and show me how to live. Pour out Your wisdom, so I can share it with others. Give me grace to walk honorably in Your presence, depending on You for every step.”

• Corrie ten Boom, God is my Hiding Place (prayer for Day 33, The Wisdom of God)

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.