For Reading and Meditation:      Romans 8:28-39What is God's great goal in the universe to which His energies are devoted? We have it in our text for today.The Living Bible puts this best and I have no hesitation in saying that although it is not regarded as a true translation (it is rather a paraphrase), its rendering of Romans 8:29 is one of the most exciting things I have ever read. This is what it says: "For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to him  should become like his Son." God's great energy and wisdom, working on behalf of all Christians, is directed to making us like His Son Jesus Christ. Of course this purpose will only be fully realized in the world to come, but while we are here He is pursuing that selfsame purpose nevertheless. It is only when we comprehend this that we will be able to understand the purpose that lies behind all our trials and difficulties. Romans 8:28 - "And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good" (TLB) - must be read in connection with Romans 8:29. Because God is committed to making us like His Son, His wisdom goes to work on every trial that comes our way in order to bring from it something that will enrich our character and make us more like Jesus Christ. Infinite power is ruled by infinite wisdom. He could deliver us and make our lives comfortable but in a fallen world that is not the best purpose. Understanding this is crucial if we are to live our lives the way God desires.Father, forgive me that so often my goals are diametrically opposed to Yours. Help me bring my goals in line with Your goals. I shall need Your help to adjust. Whatever happens, keep me ever moving toward becoming more and more like Jesus. Amen.<div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>1 Corinthians 1:1-31</li><li>Colossians 2:3</li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>How does Paul describe the foolishness of God?</li><li>What is hidden in Christ?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son " (v. 29)

For Reading and Meditation:      1 Corinthians 1:18-31Another of the chief differences between Christianity and the world's religions, and something which adherents of other faiths find a major stumbling block, is the cross, which humbles all pride and dashes all hope of self-salvation. It also speaks of the tremendous and uncalculating generosity of God in providing for us a salvation that is without price. Kagawa, the great Japanese Christian, said that it was in the cross that he found Christianity's greatest uniqueness. Listen to his words, spoken some time before his death in 1960: "I am grateful for Shinto, for Buddhism and for Confucianism. I owe much to these faiths. Yet these three faiths utterly failed to minister to my heart's deepest needs. I was a pilgrim journeying upon a long road that had no turning. I was weary, I was footsore. I wandered through a dark and dismal world where tragedies were thick. Buddhism teaches great compassion ... but since the beginning of time, who has declared 'this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many unto the remission of sins'?" Islam, of course, proclaims the mercy of God. Each chapter of the Qur'an is introduced by the words "In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful." But they do not tell of a costly and historic display of God's mercy as portrayed by the cross and spoken of in each Gospel. In Islam, Allah is merciful to the meritorious, those who pray, give alms, and fast in Ramadan. In Christianity God is merciful to sinners not because of their good works but because of Christ's sacrifice for them on the cross. Gracious and merciful Lord, through the cross I see right into Your heart. And what I see there sets my heart on fire. I see Love bleeding for me, saving me, delivering me. Now I can never be the same again. Thank You, dear Father. In Christ's Name. Amen.<div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>Galatians 6:1-14</li><li>Ephesians 2:14-16</li><li>Colossians 1:20</li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>How did Paul view the cross?</li><li>What is at the heart of the message of the cross?</li></ul></div></div>

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing ..." (v. 18) 

Man's intellect seeks after rest, and by nature seeks it apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. Men of education are apt, even when converted, to look upon the simplicities of the cross of Christ with an eye too little reverent and loving. They are snared in the old net in which the Grecians were taken, and have a hankering to mix philosophy with revelation. The temptation with a man of refined thought and high education is to depart from the simple truth of Christ crucified, and to invent, as the term is, a more intellectual doctrine. This led the early Christian churches into Gnosticism, and bewitched them with all sorts of heresies. This is the root of Neology, and the other fine things which in days gone by were so fashionable in Germany, and are now so ensnaring to certain classes of divines. Whoever you are, good reader, and whatever your education may be, if you be the Lord's, be assured you will find no rest in philosophizing divinity. You may receive this dogma of one great thinker, or that dream of another profound reasoner, but what the chaff is to the wheat, that will these be to the pure word of God. All that reason, when best guided, can find out is but the A B C of truth, and even that lacks certainty, while in Christ Jesus there is treasured up all the fulness of wisdom and knowledge. All attempts on the part of Christians to be content with systems such as Unitarian and Broad-church thinkers would approve of, must fail; true heirs of heaven must come back to the grandly simple reality which makes the ploughboy's eye flash with joy, and gladens the pious pauper's heart-"Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners." Jesus satisfies the most elevated intellect when he is believingly received, but apart from him the mind of the regenerate discovers no rest. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. " "A good understanding have all they that do his commandments. "

This timeless classic from Charles Spurgeon will help to both start and end your day with wonderful insight into God's Word.

Charles Spurgeon's Morning & Evening

"Who of God is made unto us wisdom." - 1 Corinthians 1:30

Evening Devotional

The wisdom of God is a thread that runs all through the Bible. For example! "With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding…With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his" (Job 12:13<a href="javascript:%7B%7D" style="text-decoration:underline ;">; </a>Job 12:16). "O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches" (Psalms 104:24). "The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens" (Proverbs 3:19). "Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his" (Daniel 2:20). "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21)."Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom…"(1 Corinthians 1:30).The wisdom of God refers to His perfect insight, His unerring discernment and His infallible decisions. Someone has defined it as His ability to produce the best possible results by the best possible means. It is more than knowledge. It is the ability to use that knowledge properly.All the works of God express His wisdom. The marvelous design of the human body, for instance, bears eloquent tribute to it.And God's wisdom is seen in the plan of salvation. The Gospel tells us how sin's penalty is paid, God's justice is vindicated, His mercy is dispensed righteously, and the believer in Christ is better off than he ever could have been if Adam had not fallen.Now that we are saved, the wisdom of God speaks tender comfort to our souls. We know that our God is too wise to make a mistake. Though there are things in life that are hard to understand, we know that He cannot err.We can have utmost confidence in His guidance. He knows the end from the beginning. He knows pathways of blessing of which we are completely unaware. His way is perfect.Finally, He wants us to grow in wisdom. We should be wise unto that which is good (Romans 16:19). We should walk circumspectly, as wise men, redeeming the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16). We should be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16).

With reverence, humor and skill, William MacDonald wove a daily devotional tapestry that challenges the reader to think deeply and Biblically, and apply God's Word to their lives.

Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time

"To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever." (Romans 16:27)

You are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. § Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory. § The mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. 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. § The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, wiling to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 To God our Savior, who alone is wise. 

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. § Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. § Christ Jesus … became for us wisdom from God– and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. § Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior. I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.

 The righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus  Christ, to all and on all who believe. 

Trusting in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. § 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. § The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men… God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise… that no flesh should glory in His presence. The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. § Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. All bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. § No man ever spoke like this Man! § Of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God– and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

 The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth  come knowledge and understanding. 

Whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord. Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might … but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord.” § The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. § In [Him] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. § Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. § Christ Jesus … became for us wisdom … and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. § He who wins souls is wise.

 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding. 

Indeed a greater than Solomon is here. § Prince of Peace. Scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. § Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. § The love of Christ … passes knowledge. Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. § In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. § The unsearchable riches of Christ. § Of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

Evening Daily Light

 God gave Solomon … largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. 

God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. § He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. § As the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will … For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. § In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Happy is the man who finds wisdom … Length of days is in her right hand … She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her. § Christ Jesus … became for us wisdom.

 The tree of life. 

By the grace of God I am what I am. § Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth. § It is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. § Where is boasting then? It is excluded. § Christ Jesus … became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption … “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” You He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. § You were washed … you were sanctified … you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

 Who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? 

<blockquote>
The God of peace . . . working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ" (<a id="verse_1632880309658240" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Hebrews/13/20">Heb. 13:20</a>; <a id="verse_1632880309276258880" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Hebrews/13/21">21</a>).
</blockquote>Abiding involves a dual choice. We can abide in the old nature and thereby become the victims of the internal civil war as depicted in Romans Seven. Or, we can abide (rest) in the risen Lord Jesus, the Source of our new nature, and thereby become the glad recipients of His life and liberty, as depicted in Romans Eight. "The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (<a id="verse_1632880309357821" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Romans/8/2">Rom. 8:2</a>)."How do we abide? Of God are ye in Christ Jesus' (<a id="verse_1632880309976006" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/1-Corinthians/1/30">1 Cor. 1:30</a>). It is all the work of God to place you there, and He has done it. Now stay there! Do not be moved back onto the ground of the old nature. Never look at yourself as though you were not in the risen Lord Jesus Christ. Look at Him and see yourself a new creation in Him. Look at Him as the very source of your Christian life. Abide in Him. Rest in the fact that God has placed you in eternal union with His Son, and let the Holy Spirit take care of His work in you. It is for Him to make good the glorious promise that sin shall not have dominion over you' (<a id="verse_1632880309218128" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Romans/6/14">Rom. 6:14</a>).""We should be spared years of struggle and failure if we learned at once - as the converts did in the days of Paul - that we ourselves were taken through the death of the Lord Jesus. The past blotted out, the pardoned sinner accounted crucified with the crucified Lord, henceforth joined as a new creation to the risen Lord and now sharing His life (<a id="verse_1632880309553539" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Romans/5/10">Rom. 5:10</a>).""The Lord Jesus is all that we need for all that we are.""Your life is hidden with Christ in God" (<a id="verse_1632880309634454" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Colossians/3/3">Col. 3:3</a>).

A 365 day devotional that will help you in your Christian growth and walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.  This devotional is a collection of quotes from some of the best authors in the realm of Christian growth that has been organized by Miles J Stanford.  This devotional study is divided into 12 sections each containing 31 daily portions.

None but the Hungry Heart

 Position Possessed 

<blockquote>In [this] freedom Christ has made us free - completely liberated us; stand fast then" (<a id="verse_1632877594381254" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Galatians/5/1">Gal. 5:1</a>, Amp.).</blockquote>We are never going to be able to stand before our Father in prayer and fellowship because we are fit in ourselves. We finally come to see that we are in His presence because of our position in His Son."The ground upon which our Father deals with us is grace. Every blessing we receive of Him as His children is undeserved. In all of our spiritual existence we are debtors to the rich, free, sovereign grace of our Father. And what is it we are privileged to enjoy on that ground, when we enter into this grace wherein we stand'? We then have a new position, and that position is the glorified Lord Jesus Christ."We are not only pardoned, but justified - made righteous; and this is not merely by that which He has done, or by what He has procured or bestows - but in what He is. As He is, so are we in this world' (<a id="verse_1632877594484444" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/1-John/4/17">1 John 4:17</a>). The believer must never lose sight of this fundamental truth: that the basis of his fellowship with the Father is not his own personal holiness, or what the Lord Jesus is in him, but his judicial position before the Father, or what the Lord Jesus is for him. He, the Lord our righteousness,' is the foundation and source of everything - of walk as well as of position." -E.H."Most look to get victory in order to get peace, but it is peace already made by the Lord Jesus' work and risen life that is ours. Conflict we shall find, but we know that the Father is for us, and that makes all the difference." -J.N.D."Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us. . . righteousness" (<a id="verse_1632877594102927" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/1-Corinthians/1/30">1 Cor. 1:30</a>).

 Christ Our Position " 

<blockquote>
Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us. . . sanctification" (<a id="verse_1632877938849052" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/1-Corinthians/1/30">1 Cor. 1:30</a>).
</blockquote>If we keep in mind that the Lord Jesus is our Sanctification, the seemingly difficult subject will clearly unfold for us day by day."Many fall into the Methodistic, or Quaker, or Pearsall-Smith scheme of sanctification - all of which is substantially the same. The true scriptural means of sanctification is that you are set apart to God. It is not at all a question of whether there is evil in your flesh, for there is a great deal. Why, that is all the old man is made of!"But yet you are sanctified. Sanctification has nothing whatsoever to do with the extinction of evil in the flesh. That idea, begun with Pelagius, revived by Thomas a'Kempis, handed down through Jeremy Taylor, the French and Dutch mystics, Wm. Law and John Wesley, has passed into other communions where they have no notion whatever whence it came." -W.K."The Christian life is nothing short of the life of the Lord Jesus (<a id="verse_1632877938238522" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Colossians/3/4">Col. 3:4</a>). It is His life reproduced in us. That the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh' (<a id="verse_1632877938196834" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/2-Corinthians/4/11">2 Cor. 4:11</a>). The common conception of sanctification is that every area of the life should be holy; but that is not holiness, it is the fruit of holiness: holiness is the Lord Jesus Christ."When we are conscious of pride we fancy that humility will meet our need, but the answer to pride is not humility, it is the Lord Jesus, and He is the answer to every need. The Father will not give you humility or patience or love as separate gifts of grace; He has given you the Lord Jesus, and if you simply trust Him to live out His life in you, He will be humble, patient, loving and everything else you need.""God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (<a id="verse_1632877938372926" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/2-Thessalonians/2/13">2 Thess. 2:13</a>).

 True Sanctification 

<blockquote>
The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever" (<a id="verse_1632878239202609" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Isaiah/32/17">Isa. 32:17</a>).
</blockquote>The triune God is in His element within a quiet, resting assured spirit."Just as a sinner is taught to rest in the Lord Jesus' shed Blood for his forgiveness, so must the saint rest in the Lord Jesus for his deliverance from the power of sin and the grip of the law - yes, and from himself, also. Therefore we should not be in bondage to sin, for he that hath died (and that is everyone who is in the Lord Jesus) is justified (or released) from (the power of) sin' (<a id="verse_1632878239622152" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Romans/6/7">Rom. 6:7</a>); and we are now under grace, which does not demand righteousness of us, for the Lord Jesus was made unto us righteousness and sanctification and redemption (<a id="verse_1632878239705383" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/1-Corinthians/1/30">1 Cor. 1:30</a>)."The believer truly walking in the liberty wherewith Christ hath set him free (<a id="verse_1632878239478043" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Galatians/5/1">Gal. 5:1</a>), has Him ever before his eye of faith; delighting that because of Him he is in the Father's favor. He evermore learns to abhor himself as he sees the sinfulness of the old man within, only to delight himself the more in the Lord Jesus who is his life." -W.R.N."It is only too possible for us to harbor feelings of resentment even against the Father Himself; and what inner turmoil results from such an attitude. Until we deliberately enter the stillness of the acceptance of His will, we live in chaos. Once we lay aside our rebellion in the tomb, and place our confidence in our Father, and in His love for us in the Son, we are obeying the command, Be still,' and we gain an understanding of the God of deliverance we could gain in no other way. Then we shall be in position to help others.""Their strength is to sit still" (<a id="verse_1632878239275844" href="https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/Isaiah/30/7">Isa. 30:7</a>).

 Quiet! 

30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,<cr>1</cr> who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,<cr>2</cr> holiness<cr>3</cr> and redemption.<cr>4</cr>

1 Corinthians 1:30

 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,   who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,   holiness   and redemption.  

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,  who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,  holiness  and redemption. 

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,   who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,   holiness   and redemption.  

Bible Verse of the Day

February 16, 2000

1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV

Verse by Verse Bible Study

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