by Robin Lee
Everybody who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise builder who built a house on bedrock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against that house. It didn’t fall because it was firmly set on bedrock. Matthew 7: 24-25
Devotion
Wisdom and knowledge are not the same thing. When I think about all of the many teachers I’ve had in my life, they all imparted knowledge, but the ones I remember most vividly and fondly are those who taught me wisdom, and they did it not so much in their lessons but in their actions. I think of the science teacher and academic team coach who made sure all of his team members got selected to play in at least two matches every year, not just his top competitors. I think of my grandmother, who was also a Sunday School teacher for many years, who did not merely quote scripture to me, but listened to the heart of my questions before answering. I think of my mother, who taught me the value of having someone else review and edit my writing multiple times (a process I preferred to avoid, even though it improved my writing). I think of the art teacher who taught me that working inside limitations can spark creativity. I think of the college professor who would take an outlandish position in a class discussion to encourage his students to think for themselves and to sharpen their arguments in debate. I think of my father, who taught me not only to recognize many plants and animals native to our area, but also to enjoy being in nature.
Learning from Jesus is not just about memorizing scripture or knowing all the right rules; it is about learning from what He said and did, and putting it into practice in our own lives. In doing so, we are learning wisdom and demonstrating it for someone else.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help us to remember that wisdom is not just studying Your word, but in putting it into practice. As we walk your path of wisdom, keep us Mindful of those who may be learning from us without our even knowing it.
