In His Image – Me From the Inside Out

Scripture Reading: Job 12:13-17 and 36:5; Psalm 147:5; Proverbs 2:6; Isaiah 55:8-9; Daniel 2:20; Romans 11:33 and 16:25-27

According to the last chapter of “In His Image”, the last of the 10 attributes of God that we are to imitate is wisdom. As the author points out “wisdom is closely related to knowledge, but distinct from it.” They are so closely related that you may be wondering exactly what the difference is, my short take on it is this – Wisdom, is the application of knowledge, which is to “possess the facts”. Mrs. Wilkin goes on to point out the difference between human wisdom and God’s wisdom, saying – “The wisest human you know is capable of choosing wrongly, simply because he does not possess all the facts.” However, she explains, “Because God holds all knowledge, He is able to choose [the] perfect [outcome].” This means there is a difference between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom, which James, the brother of Jesus, explains in James 3:13-18. Wilkin states that “worldly wisdom and Godly wisdom are antithetical and adversarial” and summarizes the differences as such:

Worldly wisdom self-promotes. Godly wisdom elevates others.
Worldly wisdom seeks the highest place. Godly wisdom seeks the lowest place.
Worldly wisdom avoids the mirror of the Word. Godly wisdom submits to the mirror of the Word
Worldly wisdom trusts in earthly possessions. Godly wisdom trusts in treasures in heaven.
Worldly wisdom boasts. Godly wisdom is slow to speak.
Worldly wisdom says trials will crush you. Godly wisdom says trials will mature you.
Worldly wisdom says temptation is no big deal. Godly wisdom says temptation indulged leads to death.
Worldly wisdom says, “seeing is believing.” Godly wisdom says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”(John 20:29).
Worldly wisdom wields might. Godly wisdom works in meekness.

The bottom-line is this, “The worldly-wise place themselves in opposition to God, operating from their own perspective of what is best, a perspective that seeks only the best for them.”

If you find yourself wondering how to possess “Godly wisdom”, you’ll find the answer in James 1:5, where we are instructed to simply ask God, who will give it generously.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

James 1:5

You see, God is the source of all wisdom. Job said, “With God are wisdom and might … [God] has counsel and understanding … With him are strength and sound wisdom.” (Job 12:13-17) This statement from Job introduces a third word into the mix of wisdom and knowledge, that being ‘understanding’, which has been defined by many to be the “comprehension of the facts”. I believe understanding is crucial to the mix – as it will, or should, help us better apply the facts in a more godly way – especially if we add prayer to the mix as well – which is a must for any reading of God’s Word. For how can we read and hope to comprehend the words of one whose thoughts and ways are so far above our own if we do not pray for understanding?

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

John 14:26

God has actually placed the source of understanding within every believer, through His gift of the Holy Spirit. Scripture says that the Spirit was given to teach us all things and remind us of everything that Christ said. Being finite creatures who do not hold all knowledge nor retain everything we hear, see, or even understand, we will find ourselves constantly in need of a “sustaining supply of godly wisdom”, and we must not be afraid to ask, or slack in asking for it. In other words, don’t just read to be reading and checking off a list – read for knowledge, to know the facts, about Your Creator God and to become like Him (Colossians 3:10) … pray and read to understand …. and then ask Him for the wisdom to appropriately apply it to your life. He will hear and He will answer and we will be forever changed

Wisdom is the ability to make good decisions based on the knowledge available.
Jen Wilkin, In His Image -p 136

So, let’s ask the question that we started with two weeks ago, “Who should [we] be?” God’s Word instructs us in the way of wisdom so it is safe – and wise – to say that He wants us to be wise, not as the world is wise but as He is. So how can we be wise like God? – We open His Word – where pictures of His wisdom are sprinkled throughout the pages. Or as Wilkin writes, “We do so by declaring, as Solomon did, “Bring me a sword”. For, as the author of Hebrews wrote, “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). Wilkin goes on to write: “The Word of God gives us discernment into what is arguably the area we need it most: the thoughts and intentions of our own hearts. In seeing our own depravity, we develop a right reverence (fear) of the Lord. And wisdom begins to be formed in us. When God points out your sin, you are wise to turn from it. The most basic act of wisdom is repentance. Turning from sin trains us in how to hate it, in how to anticipate the temptation points, and in how to seek the Holy Spirit’s aid in finding the way of escape.”

One final quote in closing, “It is not coincidental that a lack of discernment and a neglected Bible are so often found in company. The Bible contains for us ancient worlds of wisdom, and it tells us also of the example of Christ, who became for us wisdom from God.” So, if we want to be wise – truly wise – we only have to turn our eyes upon Jesus – who became for us wisdom from God. In Him, what He did and said, are all of the perfect examples of who God wants us to be.

My Prayer Response:

Father, I give You praise for revealing wisdom to us in Your Word and in the example of Christ our Lord. show us if and where worldly wisdom control our thoughts, words, and actions. Show To the only wise God, my Father, be glory and majesty. Show us where we are are requesting knowledge instead of godly wisdom. Grant us wisdom and prod us to keep on asking for it – and help us to trust You to give it generously as You have promised, in Jesus’ name. Now, to the only wise God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.

W1D1 of the study: “Who Should I Be?”, by Mefromthenisdeout

Today’s Focus Scripture: Leviticus 19:2

“Speak to the whole congregation of the Israelites and tell them, ‘You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.
Leviticus 19:2

In her book, “In His Image”, Jen Wilkin begins by making the point that we learn through repetition. She says, “by paying attention to what the Bible repeats, we gain an understanding of what it most wants us to learn and remember.” I can attest to the validity of this statement as I am a huge proponent of memorizing Scripture, which I have learned comes easiest if I – (a) write it down, (b) read it, and (c) repeat (say) it often. Jen, goes on to say, “We repeat what we want others to remember, and we learn what we hear repeated.” So it stands to reason that if we want to learn God’s will for our lives, or, better yet, “who He wants us to be” – we must ask the question, “Who should I be?” Then we must search the Scriptures repeatedly to find, not only the answer but the examples we are to repetitiously follow.

I love the wisdom Jen shares concerning the knowledge we gain from exploring the attributes of God in the Scripture. She recommends this second question, “How should the knowledge that God is _____________ change the way I live?”

As I mentioned in the previous post, there are many of God’s attributes that we cannot attain to, such as being infinite, self-existent, or eternal. These are traits that can only be true of God, and as Jen points out “when we strive to become like Him in any of these ways, we set ourselves up as His rival.” There are, however, a list of ten traits that we should strive toward, and they will be our focus of this study. These traits aren’t just good goals to have in life, they are the desire of God for our lives and a necessity to living the abundant life Jesus came to give us.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
John 10:10

Holy, Holy, Holy

At the very top of the list is God’s holiness, which is defined in Jen’s book as “the sum of all moral excellency”, having no “moral blemish or defilement”; and “carries the ideas of being set apart, sacred, separate, of possessing utter purity of character.” No other attribute is repeated more in connection to the name of God than holiness, and it is, as Exodus 15:11 points out, what sets Him apart form all other gods. As Isaiah and countless other believers have experienced, including myself – God’s holiness is also the very thing that makes us realize just how unholy and desperate we are for Him. Read Isaiah’s response after he saw, in a vision, seraphs standing over him, covering their faces and calling to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! His majestic splendor fills the entire earth!” He goes on to describe how powerful the vision was – to the point that the door frames shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

However, it’s Isaiah’s ultimate response that will help us understand the powerful effect of what even a glimpse of God’s true holiness can do to us. Following the first part of the vision Isaiah confesses how his own unholiness had been exposed by God’s holiness. It made him realize the very depth of his sin and the understanding that he, like us, deserved to die. Except for His grace and mercy we would have died but instead God made a way for His people to be holy just as He is Holy. Perhaps the greatest beauty is seen in the outcome of his vision following the confession of his sin. He describes it like this – “then one of the seraphs flew toward me. In his hand was a hot coal he had taken from the altar with tongs. ⁷He touched my mouth with it and said, “Look, this coal has touched your lips. Your evil is removed; your sin is forgiven.”

“Woe to me! I am destroyed, for my lips are contaminated by sin, and I live among people whose lips are contaminated by sin. My eyes have seen the king, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
Isaiah 6:5

God’s will is not hidden from our eyes, it is made evident throughout His Word, which makes clear that we are to be Holy, and the extent to which He went to make our holiness possible. Jen writes it this way, “Holiness permeates the entire Christian calling. It lies at the very center of the gospel. We are not merely saved from depravity; we are saved to holiness. Conversion entails consecration” [to be made holy].”

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.

For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
1 Corinthians 1:30 and Hebrews 10:10 NLT

My Response to God’s Word

Father, thank You for Your Word and holiness that both exposes our sin and gives us hope of your redemption and cleansing power. Thank You for not just calling us to holiness but equipping us to that end. May we never lose sight of the depth of our sin so that we never lose sight of the depth of your mercy, love, and grace.

NOTE: Borrowing from the format of “In His Image”, at the end of each chapter you will find verses, questions, and a prayer prompt to help you remember and apply what you have read. Consider keeping a journal in which you copy or paraphrase each of the verses for meditation, noting what each adds to your understanding of the attribute covered in the chapter. Then journal your answers to the questions, as well as a prayer of response.

Verses for Meditation

Questions for Reflection

1. How have you regarded God’s will for your life primarily as “What to do” versus “Who to be”? Think of a current key decision you are facing. Are your prayer requests limited to specific outcomes? Do your prayers exclude a simple request to be sanctified (made holy)? How might you change your prayers about that key decision?

2. Describe a time in your life when you experienced an acute awareness of sin. What was the cause of your awareness? What was the result?

3. Think of the holiest person you have ever known. What was his or her motive for right behavior?

4. How should a desire to grow in holiness impact our relationship with God positively? How should it impact our relationships with others positively? Give a specific example of each.

Pray

Write a prayer to God asking him to show you your sin in contrast to his holiness. Ask him to build in you a hatred for all things unholy, so that you can better reflect his true nature. Thank him that you have been made positionally holy in

*all quotes are by Jen Wilkin as found in the book, “In His Image“

You’re going to want this book for yourself. Visit the link to sample and/or buy

Tag: In His Image

To The Only Wise God

Be Holy As He Is Holy