Click here to download a printable version of the Daily Bible Study for 7.27.10.

TUESDAY — The “Know-How”
Today’s Big Point: Wisdom is not just knowledge, but “know-how.”

Wisdom cannot exist without a knowledge of all the facts pertinent to any purpose or plan. The God who is all-wise is also the God who is all-knowing.

     The twentieth century produced an information explosion unparalled in human history – instant access to volumes of knowledge at the click of a mouse. Yet with all we have learned and with all that’s been written, God’s wisdom is still important in order to answer life’s most basic questions like: How did we get here? Where do I go when I die? What is the meaning of life?
     God has given man the ability to study, analyze, categorize and develop the physical resources of this earth to benefit physical life. But, that’s where his wisdom ends. Here is a definition of God’s wisdom: “Wisdom is the power to see, and the inclination to choose, the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it. Wisdom is, in fact, the practical side of moral goodness. As such, it is found in its fullness only in God. He alone is naturally and entirely and invariably wise.” (information adapted from J. MacArthur, A.W. Tozer and J.I. Packer)

READ…What does the Bible say?
Ephesians 1:16-18 (New Living Translation)
16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called — his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

Romans 11:33 (New Living Translation)
33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

THINK…Find the answers
Today’s introduction unpacks a definition of God’s perfect wisdom. When you read Ephesians 1:16-18, how would you define spiritual wisdom that every believer should possess?

Compare the differences between “spiritual wisdom” and “earthly wisdom.”

Digging Deeper: Here are some additional verses for you if you would like to study a bit more about what the Bible has to say about God’s wisdom. Psalm 147:5, Job 12:13, Job 36:5, James 3:17-18, Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 55:8-9

Take a few moments and contemplate the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 11:33: “…how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge!”

What are some of your thoughts about Paul’s words?

Great Metaphysical Questions
~Why is there something rather than nothing?
~Why is anything in motion rather than everything still?
~Why is there order rather than chaos?
~Why is there music?
-from The Truth Project

LIVE…What will you do now?
There are a lot of smart people in our world today. Frankly, with our access to information, we can all be smart. However, there are a lot of smart people out there who end up in dumb situations.

Reflect on your definition of spiritual wisdom. How are you using spiritual wisdom in the following areas of your life: your relationships, your personal integrity, your career/job, your life goals and dreams?

PRAY…God, What do you want me to know & do?
Dear God, I want to be wise. However, I cannot have true wisdom without fully submitting my life to you. You are the source of all riches, wisdom and knowledge. I pray that I would apply Your wisdom in every area of my life. Open my eyes to the areas where I am relying on my own wisdom. God, please send people into my life to challenge me to pursue Your highest, wisest ways. Amen.

DAILY BIBLE READING: Luke 22
Luke 22:1 Feast of Unleavened Bread and Passover were two festivals linked together and celebrated on the 15th of Nisan (March/April) in Jerusalem.
Luke 22:7 Passover began at sunset. Each family would roast one lamb and eat it with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. The bitter herbs represented slavery in Egypt and the unleavened bread represented the haste in which the Israelites had to leave Egypt.
Luke 22:10 Normally women carried water jars, so the man would stand out. (Genesis 24:11; John 4:7)
Luke 22:17 Traditionally, Passover is celebrated with four different cups of wine: first with the opening prayer; second after the explanation of Passover; third following the meal of lamb, herbs and bread and fourth after singing the final portion of a song.
Luke 22:21 Sharing a meal indicates friendship and trust, so to be betrayed by Judas at the Passover meal is particularly shocking.
Luke 22:42 “Take this cup from me.” Drinking a cup was a common metaphor for experiencing a traumatic event.
Luke 22:44 “Sweat like drops of blood” is the source of debate. While there are medical conditions that support a human’s ability to sweat blood (hematidrosis), some scholars place emphasis on Luke’s usage of the words, “like blood.”