As we have studied within chapters 8 and 9; there is a parallelism of Christ’s call to the sinners to come seek righteousness and that of wisdom calling for the simple minded to gain wisdom.  We have briefly glimpsed at the fact that Wisdom was there with God from before the creation as True Wisdom is one of the attributes that is God.  Alongside Perfect Wisdom which is found in God only there can also be found Perfect Justice, Perfect Righteousness, Perfect Joy, and Perfect Love.  Thus, perfect Wisdom is only one of the attributes.

photo by permission @istockphoto.com

As has always been the case since Adam’s choice to sin, there has been counterfeit wisdom just as clearly as there has been counterfeit justice, counterfeit righteousness, counterfeit joy and counterfeit love.

  Although, we cannot blame Adam for having chosen the creation more than the creator; because, that is no different than each of us.  Our own desire for self-exaltation is no different than that which lead Adam to seek after counterfeit wisdom through eating of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”  After innocence was broken, Adam could now see evil.   Forever more there would

Continue reading Fountains of Wisdom-A Study in Proverbs (Part 15) Wisdom or Folly, whose voice will you follow? →

As you who are following may note I am forced to change from Tidbits of Wisdom to Fountains of Wisdom.  Perhaps it was the thought of tidbits that delayed my study in Proverbs before.  As we continue this study, I am beginning to see the overflowing Fountains of living water.  Oh, yes, I should have known that Christ’s portrait is on display in Proverbs, as it is throughout the Old Testament.  The only true wisdom is God’s wisdom; just, as the only true righteousness is God’s righteousness.  The very essence of Wisdom is found in God and thereby placed on display in its fullness for mankind in Christ Jesus.   To seek true wisdom, one must seek after Christ (God the body) for in Him we gain the fullness of the Triune God-Son, Father and Holy Spirit (the body, soul, and spirit of God).  Though God is more than merely wisdom; true wisdom does not exist apart from God.  He is the very essence of true wisdom, true righteousness, true justice, perfect love, and perfect glory.  So, as we recognize this truth; now, we may move forward into Chapter 9 with a renewed purpose and view of the scriptures displayed.

photo courtesy of @ istockphoto.com

The house is built; the foundation is laid with Christ the chief cornerstone.  The pillars are strong to withstand the storms of life.  (Proverbs 9:1)  The great feast has been prepared—the bread of life (the body of Christ) and the wine is poured out (the blood of Christ) and the invitation sent for all who are unworthy to come.

  (Proverbs 9:2-6 (NIV) “Let all who are simple come to my house!”To those who have no sense she says, ⁵ “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed ⁶ Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.”    The call

Continue reading Fountains of Wisdom-A Study in Proverbs, Part 14 Grace on Display →

LOVE PROCLAIMED

by Effie Darlene Barba

What Love so great you have for me

More than this heart could ever see

That you would suffer on the cross

And never shirking from the cost

Your bleeding flesh torn from the bone

Darkness fell, You ne’er did groan

As Spirit, Soul ripped from your chest

You proved your love, no greater test

Alone and trembling from the pain

With body drenched in blood’s dark stain

You whispered then and called my name

Forgiveness, love You did proclaim

Oh, never let my passion die

Though pain of life would cause me cry

When facing pain, oh let me see

Thy face of Grace, your love for me

Oh never let my joy despair

And when in darkest, deepest lair

So, let this heart forever sing

A song of loving praise, my King

© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to any brands, products or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What can I say that hasn’t already been said?  Is there any words beyond those spoken at the cross which can truly open your eyes to the magnificent beauty, majesty and glory that is found in Christ?  Where can I find the words that would cause you to see Him as your greatest treasure that you might desire to seek Him with all your heart, body and soul?  So, today; let me share with you some words of Jonathan Edwards and some sermons I urge you to go and listen.

Below are excerpts from Jonathan Edwards sermon "The Excellency of Christ–I urge you to go and read the entire sermon by clicking on the link.

The Excellency of Christ by Jonathan Edwards

         “There meet in Jesus Christ, infinite justice and infinite grace.

As Christ is a divine person, he is infinitely holy and just, hating sin, and disposed to execute condign punishment for sin. He is the Judge of the world, and the infinitely just Judge of it, and will not at all acquit the wicked, or by any means clear the guilty.And yet he is infinitely gracious and merciful. Though his justice be so strict with respect to all sin, and every breach of the law, yet he has grace sufficient for every sinner, and even the chief of sinners. And it is not only sufficient for the most unworthy to show them mercy, and bestow some good upon them, but to bestow the greatest good; yea, it is sufficient to bestow all good upon them, and to do all things for them. There is no benefit or blessing that they can receive, so great but the grace of Christ is sufficient to bestow it on the greatest sinner that ever lived. And not only so, but so great is his grace, that nothing is too much as the means of this good. It is sufficient not only to do great things, but also to suffer in order to do it, and not only to suffer, but to suffer most extremely even unto death, the most terrible of natural evils; and not only death, but the most ignominious and tormenting, and every way the most terrible that men could inflict; yea, and greater sufferings than men could inflict, who could only torment the body. He had sufferings in his soul, that were the more immediate fruits of the wrath of God against the sins of those he undertakes for…..

There are conjoined in the person of Christ infinite worthiness of good, and the greatest patience under sufferings of evil. He was perfectly innocent,and deserved no suffering. He deserved nothing from God by any guilt of his own, and he deserved no ill from men. Yea, he was not only harmless and undeserving of suffering, but he was infinitely worthy; worthy of the infinite love of the Father, worthy of infinite and eternal happiness, and infinitely worthy of all possible esteem, love, and service from all men And yet he was perfectly patient under the greatest sufferings that ever were endured in this world. Heb. 12:2. "He endured the cross, despising the shame." He suffered not from his Father for his faults, but ours; and he suffered from men not for his faults but for those things on account of which he was infinitely worthy of their love and honor, which made his patience the more wonderful and the more glorious. 1 Pet. 2:20, "For what glory is it, if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently, but if when ye do well. and suffer for it, ye take it patiently; this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." There is no such conjunction of innocence, worthiness, and patience under sufferings, as in the person of Christ.

Below are sermon links I urge you to listen to: 

Begin with:

The Friday Night Service from the Crossing–"The Seven Last Words of Jesus

 

And,

The Cross with Billy Graham

The Cross – Billy Graham’s Message To America

View on www.youtube.com

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And, then:

Alistair Begg  He is Risen

He Has Risen! – Broadcasts – Truth For Life

View on truthforlife.org

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Continue this sermon journey with:

Michael Youssef  The Four Words of Easter

Home – Leading The Way

View on www.leadingtheway.org

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Perhaps a song to sing today?  Matt Maher  Christ is Risen

Christ Is Risen – Matt Maher

View on www.youtube.com

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Hallelujah,  Christ loved me with all my blemishes, sins, failures and brokenness enough that he was willing to pay a price greater than I can even imagine that I might forever be in the presence of His great beauty, love, joy, and Glory.  What about you?  Do you know Him as your Savior?

© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to any brands, products or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Proverbs 8: (NIV) “Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
² At the highest point along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
³ beside the gate leading into the city,
at the entrance, she cries aloud:”

Don’t you hear her cries, calling to us as we continue down our roads to destruction?  We watch as our nation drives itself into financial bondage with China.  We watch as violent crimes continue to rise.  We watch silently as poverty throughout the world rises.  We watch while teenage suicide is on the rise.  We watch as our own life spirals down into desperation, agony, and defeat.  Don’t you hear the cries of wisdom and understanding bidding you to hear her voice?  It is that voice that began before the world was formed—born out of the very essence of God Himself and flowing forth through the very image of Christ.  An ever flowing light of truth, righteousness, and unimaginable beauty; wisdom was personified in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.  Just as wisdom was born in the essence of God—Christ being forever the display of the “body” of the trinity—the Word of truth is the perfect display of wisdom in its fullness.  Apart from God there is no true wisdom.

Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2011 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws. If you desire copies please go to:

There is no greater beauty than that of Christ’s love and righteousness.  His righteousness demands a hatred of sin; for it is that sin which separates each of us from His presence.  Sin, born within the hearts of our own self-exaltation and desires to be wise within our own self, blinds us completely from enjoying or seeing the magnificence of His perfect love, wisdom, joy and glory.

How else could Adam have not recognized what he had with God?  By all that it is, God must hate evil—for evil and sin is the absence of God; just as darkness

Continue reading Wisdom Crying Into the Darkness-A Study in Proverbs Part 13 →