Proverbs 24:14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

Wisdom is correct expectation. Don’t focus on the reward, it will come within the designed plans that God has for you. So often we live our lives with an expectation of reward. Much of our life is driven by setting and achieving goals. Life is like that and you can measure your personal growth in goal setting and achievement. It does not work that way in God’s Kingdom.

God sets the goals and measures the progress in kingdom living. We do not get to pick and choose our gifts, abilities, rewards nor set the path before us. We just get to walk in it. For some of us it is difficult to transition from ordering our lives to following faith. In the kingdom we walk by faith, not by sight.

Philippians 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

The world view is to glorify yourself with achievements. The kingdom view is to glorify God, to allow Christ to shine forth thru obedience of faith. A recent incident brought this into focus for me in that I was not properly prepared to answer a man as I could have to the glory of God. Had I finished the homework assignment properly, wisdom would have prevailed.

Numbers 27:14 For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

Sanctify God before the eyes of others, He is set apart and there is no other like Him.

John 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

There was a boy in school that all the guys called Stinky. His body odor was so foul yet shaming him did not change him. He was until the end of his school days Stinky.

My point? We who were dead in our sins all stink. Are we going to deny it? Do we wear it with pride shoving it in the face of those who are offended? It was a shameful behavior to call Johnny anything other than his given name. I dare say some didn’t even know his name was Johnny.

It is a common human practice to avoid people who stink. It is a vain fear to think that their stink will get on you. Saving the lost can be stinky business. That didn’t stop Jesus. Why does it stop us?

We don’t like to be uncomfortable. We came out of a life that was uncomfortable. We stank. Now that we are out of it, we do not care to go back. Great, I agree, but where would you be if someone had not come and loved on you back when you were stinky? Who knows better the way out other than those who have been there?

Isaiah 42:13-15 The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once. I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.

Will you make a difference in Stinky’s life?