October 23, 2021 … Christians Living Wisely …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 296 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from Kathryn Scott singing … I Have Decided To Follow Jesus … leading in worship and singing of how We, as Christians, must decide to follow Jesus — no matter what!! 

Wise like the old owl ... 

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Highlight Passage:  Luke 16:8  [NLT] …  

8 “The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light. 

…  Jesus shows that Christians should be shrewd in dealing with others as often many non-christians are in the ways of the world.                        

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Luke 16:1-9 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches His disciples how to be wise in dealing with others.  

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 90:12 [NLT] …   

12 Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. 

… Moses’ prayer to grow in wisdom because life is short. 

Reference Passage: … Matthew 25:14-30  [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus tells of a Christian’s responsibility to be a wise and faithful steward of what God has given us to use for The Master’s glory. 

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 5:15-17  [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians use our resources wisely and carefully in dealing in this evil world. 

Reference Passage: … Colossians 4:5 [NLT] …   

5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 

… Paul also challenges fellow Christians live with Godly wisdom in a world of non-believers.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Mike Wittmer, AT THIS LINK   … showed how students in China shrewdly used an app designed by the government to use internet for online teaching during the Covid pandemic and how the children cleverly were able to disable the app.    

And Jesus even lauded those in the world who were shrewd in dealing with worldly wisdom to get things done (see Luke 16:8).  Though Jesus wanted His followers to use GODLY wisdom, and follow His ways (see linked song) to deal with the world, … much like the old symbol of being wise like the owl (see photo).       

And if one meditates and believes in the Scriptures above, we’ll see that we need to do all we can to use all our God-given gifts, talents, and faculties to deal shrewdly, but with Godly intent, to move forward in these very evil times (see Paul’s exhortation in Eph 5 and Col 4).  And I’m praying today that we do just that for God’s glory today - and tomorrow.     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … giving me what I need from Your empowering grace to glorify you in these evil days.        

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to do all we can to follow Your will, Lord, to honor You in this wicked word.    … Amen  

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.