THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
Fortune cookies are the traditional conclusion to a Chinese dinner.
These small cake-like desserts were actually invented in America, and are not served in China.
Many people often think that the message contained within the fortune cookies are ancient Chinese proverbs, however many are actually written by hired philosophers.
The non-Chinese origin of the fortune cookie is humorously illustrated in 1989 novel The Joy Luck Club, written by Amy Tan in which a pair of Chinese immigrant women find jobs at a fortune cookie factory in America.
They are amused by the unfamiliar concept of a fortune cookie but, after several hilarious attempts at translating the fortunes into Chinese, come to the conclusion that the cookies contain not wisdom, but "bad instruction."
______________________________________________________________________________________
__________SCRIPTURE____________________________________________________________
Prov 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
KJV
______________________________________________________________________________________
_______THOUGHT______________________________________________________________________
Wisdom actually begins when a person realizes God is!
God IS: Creator, Sustainer, Holy, Righteous, and Perfect.
When a human being realizes God IS, a certain "fear" fills his/her heart!
The realization of God's being and character causes that fear. For God is also: Omnipotent, Omniscient, Just, and Eternal Judge of all our actions!
It is this "fear" which actually brings us to desire knowing God. When we realize that God is in control of an eternity beyond this life, we want to know how we can gain His favor.
"The fear of the LORD," at first, causes turmoil in our soul.
But "knowledge of the holy" God actually brings "understanding!"
When we determine to know more about God, He reveals more of His character: love, mercy and grace. By seeking Him, God actually opens up the "cookie" of our being and fills it with the knowledge of His Holiness.
Because of His love, God created us to have fellowship with Him.
Because of His mercy, God provided a manner of salvation through which we can be redeemed from our willful and sinful separation from His fellowship.
And, by His grace, God extended His own righteousness to us through the victory Jesus gained at the cross.
Oh, Lord, help me today to be stopped by the fear of Your Awesome Being!
Then help me to have understanding so that Your Presence might bring peace to cover the fear!
Love ya,
Bruce