Day 156, Year 1

The Lord of Wisdom is the Source of Life

“Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, But the discipline of fools is folly.” (Proverbs 16:22 NASB)

Jesus said, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:38-39 NASB)

Some descriptions of the wisdom in the Old Testament bear striking similarities to how the New Testament describes Jesus Christ. Among them is the illustration of wisdom being a fountain of life, which is the Holy Spirit that Jesus gives believers. One Greek version of John 7 does not use the phrase “the Holy Spirit,” but simply “the Spirit”—this might fulfill the Spirit of wisdom in the Old Testament. When believers have God’s wisdom, we have the wellspring of life. Since those who believe in Jesus are eligible to receive His Spirit, the rivers of living water will flow from our lives, sharing the life wellspring and words of wisdom that come from God through us to others.

In times of adversity, many people may feel timid. But if we are filled with God’s Spirit, our timidity can be extinguished, and we can become courageous. This transformation is evident in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. At first, the disciples were fearful and afraid of being arrested even after Jesus’ resurrection, but then they became bold after the Holy Spirit came upon them with power. The key is that the infilling of God’s Spirit and empowerment are for the upright and totally belong to the Lord. Therefore, believing in Jesus is the crucial starting point for life transformation, while thereafter being perpetually filled with His Spirit is the turning point in our lives. The Spirit is the wellspring of our lives, continuously imparting vitality and wisdom to us, which we could then share with others.

To be unendingly filled with the Spirit, we need a heart persistent in prayer, longing for Jesus’ mercy, help, and wisdom. Our endeavor to remove anything that hinders the work of the Spirit and to strive for holiness and righteousness in God’s eyes is also crucial. Those who believe in Jesus and receive His Spirit of wisdom could then share the fountain of the Lord’s life. But we should first have persistent faith in Jesus for the Spirit’s work to advance. We need to promptly remove anything that undermines our faith through wisdom and prayer. Our faith in Jesus must be durable so that we can grow continuously in pursuing wisdom, fervent prayers, seeking and obeying God’s guidance and help, together with always being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Reflection questions:

1) Are you determined to thoroughly remove all obstacles hindering your faith and the Spirit’s work in your life? Why?

2) Have you ever received wisdom from the Spirit of God, which enabled you to share God’s fountain of life with others? If not, how would you prepare yourself and ask God for this?