Happy April Fools’ Day! There have been many times in my life when I’ve felt like a fool. For example, I’ve re-read transcripts of my trials and cringed over silly or embarrassingly ignorant questions I asked a witness. I tripped over a computer cord in court and almost landed flat on my face. I tripped and went sprawling while walking up the courthouse steps. There are plenty of other foolish things I’ve done that I don’t even want to mention. But all of this behavior, including the things I’m too embarrassed to mention, cannot compare to the one most foolish decision I’ve ever made in my entire life. And I’ve made this same decision over and over again—to the infinite detriment of myself and many others.
It is the decision to live without making God 100% Lord of my life!
If God is not the LORD and 100% center of my life—it means that someone else is. Who else is more qualified than HE? The Bible is VERY clear that a failure to acknowledge God—in all we are and ALL we do—makes a fool out of us. God never intended for us to be a fool. The Bible says:
“The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.” Psalm 14:1-2
Psalms 14 makes it clear that this is not just talking about atheists; but—even people who are born again, yet make no effort or little effort to seek to live with a deep understanding of Who God is. When we seek to know God for Who He is, we cannot help but become internally thankful and grateful for even the most basic things—waking up in the morning, the ability to see with our eyes, the friends and family God has given us—and the amazing heavenly gifts like the experience of love, joy and peace! But when we become unthankful, even as born again believers, we quickly become very, very foolish. This foolishness is manifested by the way we stumble through life with no purpose, no understanding, no peace, and little lasting satisfaction. But the Bible predicts this result:
“[W]hat may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools…” Romans 1:19-22
To keep from becoming fools, we need to understand as much as we can about God. We need to know our end. We need to know our great opportunities in Christ. We need to develop the attitudes of Christ, which keep us hungering after righteousness, dependent upon God, meek, and full of mercy. These attitudes draw us deeper and deeper into the presence of God where He reveals the true state of our frailty without Him. The Bible says:
“Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Surely every man walks about like a shadow; surely they busy themselves in vain; he heaps up riches, and does not know who will gather them. “And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.” Psalms 39:4-7
When we seek to know God for who He is, we hold Him in awesome wonder. He gives us His wisdom.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10
God’s wisdom, love and power is unmistakable. It is eternal. Even when our enemies think us fools for Christ, we have great confidence in knowing God is in control and His ways are far above our ways. We have compassion on those who don’t acknowledge God’s ways because we understand they are blind. But even fools understand love. Thus, God’s love is our platform for bringing them into the knowledge of His presence. But we can only give away what we possess. When Jesus is Lord of our life, then the fruit of His Spirit—His strength, and His wisdom—abound in our life and we have much to give!
Lord, help me acknowledge Your presence every moment of my life and apply your wisdom in every area of my life! I want the fruit of Your Spirit to be my platform for speaking and living Your truth. Lord, You are so wise and patient. Teach me to observe all your ways in every corner of my heart. Teach me to walk in the path of a peacemaker with love and understanding. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
2 Responses
We must always strive to be more like God everyday .
He gives us the marvelous fruit of HIS Spirit!