Embracing God's Wisdom Through Humility and Experience

Devotional

Day 1: Wisdom Is a Gift from God, Sought in Humility

True wisdom is not something we manufacture on our own, but a gift from God that we are invited to seek with humility and openness. When we recognize our limitations and ask God for wisdom, we acknowledge that we do not have all the answers and that we need divine guidance to navigate life’s complexities. This humility is not weakness, but the beginning of true understanding, as we allow God to wash away what is unnecessary and reveal what is essential in our lives. [37:33]

James 1:5-6 (ESV)
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to admit, “I don’t know,” and ask God for wisdom today?

Day 2: Wisdom Focuses God’s Love into Action

Wisdom is the means by which we take the love and grace of God and focus them into our daily lives, relationships, and communities. Without wisdom, love can remain an abstract idea, but with wisdom, we are able to discern how to live righteously, pursue justice, and act with equity and fairness. Wisdom helps us to magnify God’s love in specific, tangible ways, making a real difference in the world around us. [39:17]

Proverbs 1:2-3 (ESV)
To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity.

Reflection: What is one relationship or situation where you need God’s wisdom to help you focus His love in a practical way today?

Day 3: God’s Wisdom Is Conviction Without Contempt

God’s wisdom calls us to hold strong convictions, but always with love and grace, never with contempt or rivalry. In a world that often values being right over being loving, God’s wisdom challenges us to seek justice and righteousness without falling into the trap of animosity or self-righteousness. Conviction rooted in God’s wisdom is marked by humility and a desire for peace, not by a need to win or prove others wrong. [43:29]

James 3:17 (ESV)
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Reflection: Is there someone you disagree with whom you can approach today with conviction rooted in love rather than contempt?

Day 4: Wisdom Means Letting God Wash Away What We Don’t Need

Just as the Badlands are shaped by layers being washed away, so too are our lives shaped by letting God remove what is not helpful or holy. Wisdom is not just about accumulating experiences or knowledge, but about allowing God to reveal and remove those attitudes, ambitions, or habits that keep us from living fully in His grace. This process requires honesty and surrender, trusting God to shape us into people who reflect His love and justice. [47:56]

Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Reflection: What is one “layer” or habit in your life that you sense God wants to wash away so His wisdom can shine through?

Day 5: Wisdom Is Knowing We Do Not Know and Trusting God for Tomorrow

True wisdom is found in recognizing the limits of our own understanding and inviting God to reveal what we need for each new day. Rather than clinging to what we think we know, we are called to a posture of openness, ready to learn, grow, and be transformed by God’s ongoing work in our lives. This humility allows us to focus the love, righteousness, and justice of Christ into the world, trusting that God will guide us into deeper wisdom as we walk with Him. [47:08]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Reflection: What is one area where you need to let go of your certainty and trust God to teach you something new today?

Sermon Summary

The landscape of the Badlands offers a striking metaphor for the pursuit of wisdom. Just as the Badlands were formed by layers of sediment and then revealed by the washing away of what was unnecessary, so too is wisdom built up in our lives through layers of experience, knowledge, and humility. Yet, it is not merely the accumulation of experiences that makes one wise; it is the willingness to let God wash away what is not needed, to reveal what is true and good within us. Wisdom, as described in James and Proverbs, is not something we manufacture on our own, but a gift from God—one that we are invited to seek, to pray for, and to receive with humility.

Wisdom differs from intelligence. Intelligence is the knowledge we gain from study and learning, but wisdom is the practical understanding that comes from living, from interacting with others, and from being shaped by the world and by God. True wisdom is marked by humility—a recognition of our own limitations and a willingness to say, “Father, not as I will, but as you will.” This humility allows us to let go of pride, rivalry, and selfish ambition, and to be open to God’s transforming work in our lives.

The need for wisdom is not about earning salvation or proving ourselves right. We are saved by the righteousness and wisdom of Christ, not by our own. Instead, wisdom is the means by which we take the love and grace we have received from God and focus it into our daily lives. It is wisdom that helps us live out justice, equity, and righteousness. Without wisdom, love remains an abstract idea; with wisdom, love becomes focused and active, shaping our relationships and our world.

Worldly wisdom often values being right, winning, and holding others in contempt. God’s wisdom, by contrast, calls us to conviction without contempt, to justice without rivalry, and to love that is both strong and gracious. We are challenged to examine our hearts for the stones of rivalry, contempt, and selfish ambition that need to be washed away, so that God’s love and light can shine more clearly through us. In humility, we ask God to reveal what needs to go, and to build up in us the wisdom that leads to a life full of grace, justice, and love.

Key Takeaways

1. Wisdom is not simply the accumulation of knowledge or experience, but the result of allowing God to wash away what is unnecessary in our lives. Like the Badlands, our true character and purpose are revealed not just by what we add, but by what we let go of through God’s refining work. [37:33]
2. Humility is the foundation of true wisdom. Recognizing our own limitations and ignorance opens us to God’s guidance, allowing us to pray, “Not as I will, but as you will.” This posture invites God to shape us, rather than relying on our own understanding or insisting on our own way. [35:56]
3. Wisdom is a gift from God, not a product of our own striving. We are called to seek it, to pray for it, and to receive it with open hands, knowing that it is God’s wisdom—not ours—that brings justice, equity, and righteousness into the world. [38:33]
4. The purpose of wisdom is to focus the love and grace of God into concrete action. Without wisdom, love remains vague and unfocused; with wisdom, we are able to discern where and how God’s love is most needed, and to act with justice, equity, and compassion in our relationships and communities. [39:17]
5. God’s wisdom stands in stark contrast to the wisdom of the world, which often values being right, winning, and holding others in contempt. We are called to conviction without contempt, to justice without rivalry, and to examine our hearts for the stones of pride and ambition that need to be washed away, so that God’s love can shine through us more clearly. [43:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:31] - Opening Words of Gratitude
[05:30] - Continued Thanks and Gathering
[08:30] - Transition to Worship
[12:52] - Prayers and Community Updates
[15:28] - Introduction to the Badlands
[31:12] - The Geology and Layers of the Badlands
[33:34] - Erosion and the Revelation of Layers
[34:35] - What is Wisdom?
[35:56] - Wisdom vs. Intelligence
[37:33] - Humility and the Gift of Wisdom
[38:33] - Why We Need Wisdom
[39:17] - Wisdom Focuses God’s Love
[41:00] - Worldly Wisdom vs. God’s Wisdom
[43:29] - Conviction Without Contempt
[45:01] - Double-Mindedness and Surrender
[46:05] - The Limits of Human Knowledge
[47:56] - Self-Examination and Letting Go
[48:53] - Affirmation of Faith
[49:52] - Prayers for the Community
[51:35] - Pastoral Prayer
[53:55] - Praying for Our Nation
[55:03] - The Lord’s Prayer
[57:01] - Announcements and Ways to Serve
[59:50] - Community Thanks and Mission Focus
[61:56] - Passing the Peace

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

James 1:5-8 (ESV) — > If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Proverbs 1:1-7 (ESV) — > The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Observation Questions

According to James 1:5, what should someone do if they feel they lack wisdom? What does James say about God’s response?
In Proverbs 1:3, what are some of the practical results of wisdom listed?
The sermon compared the Badlands’ layers being revealed by erosion to the way God shapes us. What does the “washing away” represent in our spiritual lives? [[37:33]]
How does the sermon describe the difference between intelligence and wisdom? [[35:56]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think James emphasizes asking for wisdom with faith and not doubting? What might “double-mindedness” look like in real life? [[45:01]]
The sermon says wisdom is not something we manufacture, but a gift from God. How does this challenge the way people usually think about becoming wise? [[38:33]]
Proverbs says wisdom helps us live out justice, equity, and righteousness. Why might these qualities require wisdom, not just good intentions? [[39:17]]
The sermon talks about “conviction without contempt.” What does it mean to have strong beliefs without looking down on others? [[43:29]]

Application Questions

The sermon invites us to pray, “Father, not as I will, but as you will.” Is there an area of your life where you need to let go of your own way and ask God for wisdom? What would it look like to do that this week? [[37:33]]
Think about a recent disagreement or conflict. Did you focus more on being right or on showing love and wisdom? How could you approach a similar situation differently next time? [[41:00]]
The Badlands metaphor suggests that God sometimes needs to “wash away” things in us. What is one attitude, habit, or ambition you sense God might be asking you to let go of so that his wisdom can shine through? [[47:56]]
The sermon says wisdom is what helps us focus God’s love into action. Can you name a relationship or situation where you need God’s wisdom to know how to show love in a practical way? [[39:17]]
The world’s wisdom often values winning and holding others in contempt. Where do you see this in your own heart or in the world around you? How can you practice “conviction without contempt” this week? [[43:29]]
The sermon describes humility as the foundation of wisdom. What is one way you can practice humility in your daily life or relationships this week? [[35:56]]
James says to ask God for wisdom. When was the last time you specifically prayed for wisdom about a decision or relationship? What happened? How might you make this a regular part of your prayer life? [[38:33]]

Sermon Clips

And for us, wisdom is much the same. We can build up layer after layer after layer after layer of experience and of knowledge and of knowledge and of insight and intuition. But the humility comes in when we say, not as I will, but as you will, God. Wash away those parts of me that are not good, that are not needful, that are not helping. Wash away. Wash away. Reveal what I need and take away what I do not. [00:37:52] (35 seconds) #SurrenderToGodsWill

James and also Proverbs talk about wisdom as a gift from God. Not as something that we necessarily can create out of, create on our own out of whole cloth. For us, Christian wisdom is a gift from God. It is something that God gives us. [00:38:26] (21 seconds) #WisdomAsAGift

Without wisdom, love is just this idea that kind of exists out here, and like, you know, love feels good. Love is helpful. Love is great. Grace is wonderful. Wisdom helps us to focus it in like a magnifying glass and say, here's where we need this. Here's where I need the grace of God. Here's where I need the love of God. Here's where the love and the light of Jesus Christ needs to be shown into the world. [00:40:27] (25 seconds) #FocusedGrace

The hymn doesn't go, they'll know we are Christians by our wins. The hymn doesn't go, they'll know we are Christians because we are right. The hymn goes, they'll know we are Christians by our love. And wisdom is the thing that helps us to focus that love where it is needed, when it is needed. There you go. [00:41:59] (23 seconds) #KnownByLove

God's wisdom is conviction without rivalry. Conviction filled with love and grace. The wisdom of the world says you need to be right. You need to win. Being wise is part of winning. Being wise is part of being right. Being wise is part of making sure the person who is wrong loses. But God's wisdom is about justice. It's about equity. It's about righteousness. It's about sharing and shedding the love and the light of God into the world in particular ways, in particular places. [00:43:58] (36 seconds) #JusticeOverRivalry

God's wisdom points into our lives, focuses into our lives the ways that we are called to be holy. Without the addendum, without the second part, God, transform my life as you see fit. I do not know enough to be righteous on my own. I do not know enough to be holy on my own. I do not know enough to save myself, God. I certainly don't know enough to save anyone else. And so, God, I need you. That's wisdom. [00:45:14] (51 seconds) #DependenceOnGod

Wisdom is knowing that we do not know, or at least that we know imperfectly. And it's inviting God to reveal to us those things in our lives that need to go away. Inviting God into our lives to build up the wisdom that we need. So that we might focus the love, the righteousness, the equity, the justice of Christ into this world. [00:47:21] (34 seconds) #EmbracingDivineMystery

``What worldly wisdom do you need to unlearn? What contempt for someone else do you carry in your heart? What rivalry have you put in your bag and forgotten is there? What selfish ambition is keeping you from hearing God? What are you carrying? Or in the language, in the image of Badlands, what stone needs to be washed away to reveal the work that God is doing in you? [00:47:56] (47 seconds) #UnlearningWorldlyWisdom

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