Doing Justice and Loving Mercy: Compassion Ministries, Mentor's Guide, MG16

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D O I N G J U S T I C E A N D L O V I N G M E R C Y : C O M P A S S I O N M I N I S T R I E S

limited sample of the abundant biblical evidence of God as the source of our wisdom. Isa. 54.13 - All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. Dan. 2.20-22 - Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. [21] He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; [22] he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.” Ps. 147.5 - Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. Rom. 11.33 - Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! Rom. 16.27 - . . . to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. Col. 2.1-3 - For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, [2] that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, [3] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Wisdom belongs to God; one may be “sharp” or “smart” or “clever” or “keen” or even “brilliant.” None of these, however, are the same as the wisdom of God, which includes this spiritual dimension of simply not only knowing about but seeing into . God has unlimited insight to the true nature of the world and its affairs, and sees things in perfect relation to everything, including the end from the beginning, and acts on this perfect knowledge with the most appropriate and timely action. Wisdom is not merely data or concepts or ideas, but authentic insight into the nature of a thing, and how we ought to function in relationship to it. According to Scripture, God himself is the only source for this kind of deep insight and plan of action. He is the only wise God. Job 12.13 - With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.

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