JUNE 30

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

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James 1:5

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

James 3:17

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”

Ephesians 1:17

“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,”

Psalm 49:3

“My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.”

Psalm 90:12

“So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Psalm 104:24

“O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions—”

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We are reading a book by Corrie ten Boom, with daily recordings she made to broadcast over Trans World Radio.  Her Dutch family  sheltered Jews during the Nazi invasion of Holland.  As a result, she, her sister Betsy and their father were taken to concentration camps in Germany. The Lord did many miracles to allow both Corrie and Betsy to bring the Gospel to the other women in their camp.   Their father was murdered in an extermination camp and Betsy was sick, dying just two weeks before Corrie and the rest were freed.  After her freedom, Corrie traveled the world, telling everyone even in remote areas, about salvation through Christ, besides radio and writing many books.  This one is entitled, “Not I, but Christ.”

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GOD’S WISDOM AND OURS

Many years ago I worked in Haarlem, in the Netherlands, among mental challenged people.  I had several Bible study clubs with them.  It was a great work.

You and I need the Holy Spirit to understand eternal truths.  The foolishness of God is the greatest wisdom.  We cannot understand it with worldly wisdom.

In 1 Corinthians 1 and 2 we can read about this.  I always see that there are two levels:  the wisdom of the wise, which God gives to us as a privilege, and then a little higher the foolishness of God.  We can only understand this through the Holy Spirit as the highest wisdom.

We should never try to bring the foolishness of God to the level of the wisdom of the wise and, by doing so, try to understand it.  Then we come to the strangest conclusions.  Some think that God is dead.  They got this idea because they acted in the way I mentioned just now.  They made logical thinking their guide.

Brother Andrew once said:  “What, is God dead?  Oh no, I talked to Him this morning.”  In his quiet time he experienced the foolishness of God.  God, who made heaven and earth, talked with him, a small human being.  Never pull down the foolishness – the highest wisdom – of God and judge it with the wisdom of the  “wise.”  If we want to see reality, we must lift up the wisdom of the wise to the level of the foolishness of God.  Then we shall see and understand.

The mentally challenged people had very little wisdom of the wise.  But the Holy Spirit gave them a great deal of the foolishness of God, which they accepted much more easily and without doubts.  They also understood it.  Then I saw the truth of the Word that we must become like children, so that we can enter the kingdom of heaven.  I could never tell them too much of God’s love.  Then their faces were radiant.

The father of one of the girls once asked me:  “Why is my daughter not allowed to take part in the Lord’s Supper?  She loves the Lord.  Does it really matter that she cannot learn?”  My answer was:  “Pray about it this week.  I shall also do so.”

I did, but I also went to a  pastor with whom I discussed the possibility that she be baptized and confirmed and take part in the Lord’s Supper.

All this was in about  1933.  There were no organized ministries to the mentally challenged at that time.  Nowadays  it is much better and easier.  This pastor and I prayed together, and it became possible.  The only thing he said was, “but you must explain it to them:  I cannot do it simply enough.”

Then I translated the whole printed order of the Lord’s Supper, making a story out of it.  I remember the words:  “They that eat and drink unworthily, eat and drink a judgment on themselves.”

“Once there was a lady,: I began, “who did not at all believe that the Lord Jesus died on the cross for her. She never asked Him to forgive her sins.  Do you know what she did?  She took part in the Lord’s Supper, took the bread and the wine which are signs of the Lord’s body and blood, through which we receive forgiveness.”

The reaction was that the whole class said:  “Oh, how terrible!”

I said, “Yes, how terrible.  Do you know who said so, too?  The Lord Jesus.”

I have never so much enjoyed the Lord’s Supper as that time together with this class.  There was an understanding, a thankfulness, an earnestness over which the angels must have rejoiced.

Then the baptismal service!!  Jack, a big fellow with no more understanding than a six-year-old, knelt down and heard those wonderful words from the pastor’s lips:  “Jack, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”  He felt the water on his forehead.

Jack was enjoying it so much that he wanted to hold it fast.  He did not rise, but remained kneeling on the floor.  I took his hand and brought him back to his seat.  But Jack kept his eyes tightly shut.  He wanted to hold it fast.  It was very touching.

Thank You, Lord, that You give salvation to children, and to those who’s understanding is as a child, and that You give it to those who read this now.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, that You said:  “Come to Me all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  How much You love us, Lord.  Amen

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