Day 28
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!”
-Psalm 111:10
A common request that regularly features in our prayers involve asking God for wisdom. For instance, we pray for wisdom to navigate through a particular issue, or when we embark on a new chapter in our lives.
But what exactly is wisdom? Wisdom is very different from just knowing facts and information. It involves applying our knowledge across various scenarios, and being sensible in forming opinions and making decisions. For example, we know for a fact eating too much unhealthy food is bad for us. It would be unwise then, to have fast food every day!
The psalmist describes how one can be truly wise: by fearing the Lord, and practising this fear. The word ‘fear’ does not just refer to dread or terror, but to a reverence of God. Fear recognises God’s sovereignty, law, will and works in our lives, as well as the consequences of offending him. It is only through this recognition that we can truly be wise. And only by practising this reverence in our lives, can we say that we have a ‘good understanding’ of this wisdom. Conversely, we can say of the opposite: only fools will not fear God.
This Lenten season brings into focus a key tenet of the Christian faith – the life of Jesus, culminating in the ultimate expression of love that God has given to his people. As we journey through this season, let us pray and reflect on ourselves:
- Is our faith simply a subscription to a set of beliefs, or a true reverence for who God is?
- What are some ways we can actively practise this reverence?
Marcus Sia 🙏