By Tripp Prince.

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29

For most of us, we spend the majority of our lives pursuing the very things Jesus identifies in this verse: a home to call our own, a family to love and laugh with, and a meaningful and life-giving vocation.  These are so widely accepted as virtuous and noble pursuits that few people would ever question their value or worth. Yet, here in Matthew 19, we see Jesus promising a hundredfold reward for those who have left them behind! What’s going on here?

In this verse, Jesus is teaching us a central aspect of faithful discipleship: it’s possible to love good things in the wrong way.

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – Total Devotion  →

His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. 2 Peter 1:3

One thing I love about God’s Word is that it’s filled with treasures. A few months ago, I found a jewel. As I read Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians in 2 Thessalonians 1:11, the following phrase grabbed me, “. . . and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by faith.” I immediately thought about my purpose of sharing God-words through written and spoken communication.

I began my calling with faith but later allowed fear and pride to take over. So I tightened my hands on the reigns of my life, and I tried to control outcomes. Instead of trusting God for the results as I worked, I trusted in myself. I forgot that it was my job to act “by faith” but God’s job to fulfill those actions by “his power.” Indeed, we fulfill all of our “good purposes” by His power, and every act prompted by our faith is fulfilled by God. We take the first steps but the fulfillment and completion of those steps belong to Him. The good works assigned to us originated with Him (Ephesians 2:10) and they will be completed by Him.

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters, Boyd Bailey – God’s Answer for Striving  →

Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me … Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy. Psalm 43:3–4

Because life can be so busy, there are days when I want to take a vacation from my cell phone, e-mail, and all the other technology that sometimes feels like it controls our daily lives. But the great news is that no matter how complicated life becomes, God’s invitation for His children remains uncomplicated: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). It’s astounding to think that the Creator of the Universe invites us to discover Him in a more authentic way through the practice of entering into solitude and silence. This is where we find Him most, when we—even if it’s for a short time—leave the busy world behind.

In her book “An Invitation to Solitude and Silence,” Ruth Haley Barton writes: “The invitation to solitude and silence is . . . an invitation to enter more deeply into the intimacy of relationship with the One who waits just outside the noise and busyness of our lives. It is an invitation to communication and communion with the One who is always present even when our awareness has been dulled by distraction. It is an invitation into the adventure of spiritual transformation into the deepest places of our being, an adventure that will result in greater and greater freedom and authenticity and surrender to God than we have yet experienced.”

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters, Boyd Bailey – An Invitation to Solitude and Silence →

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:26-27

Rita and I sometimes struggle with how and what to teach our four daughters and now their husbands. We instructed our children and teenagers to surround themselves with those they wanted to become like. We encouraged them to spend time with good students, athletes, teachers and coaches who modeled humility, hard work and a strong faith in Jesus. The closer relationships our children built with their classmates and authorities, the more opportunities they experienced to serve others and to grow their own interests. Our adult children still need wisdom, encouragement and grace to best determine God’s will for their lives. Close proximity to Christ and His followers creates the best opportunities.

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters, Boyd Bailey – Proximity Creates Opportunity  →

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17, NKJV

It’s good to have options and opportunities because it helps us get to God’s best. It’s bad to have options and opportunities because it can hinder getting to God’s best. Conflicting questions either confuse my mind or clarify my thinking. Questions like: Is it necessary for me to say yes to a particular meeting invitation? Or, can I risk saying no and trust the other meeting attendees will respect my decision? Do I increase my work travel? Or, do I limit my trips for the sake of being more accessible to my family in this season of life? Essentials are a wise, best use of my time.

What does it mean to walk circumspectly? In the south we say, “Measure twice and cut once.” Wise life decisions are measured by prayerful planning that discerns the essentials for success. A successful hiker prepares for uncharted terrain. She learns from those who have experienced the best and worst trails to follow. Her backpack is supplied for the unexpected, maps are up to date and she is dressed in seasonal apparel. Similarly the wise redeem the time with a sense of measured focus to follow Jesus. Wisdom budgets time as God’s gift—we either use it or lose it.

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – Essentials Not Non-Essentials  →