Do you want to grow in wisdom? I think we all do. But do you know how that happens? The Bible gives us a very clear answer:

Skilled living gets its start in the Fear-of-God,
    insight into life from knowing a Holy God.
(Proverbs 9:10, MSG)

I knew this and I try to live it out every day of my life. But that’s not all, folks! This very morning I read from the Acts how

the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. (Acts 9:31,NRSV, emphasis added)

If we want to grow in wisdom we need to be living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. In the comfort of the Holy Spirit! How often do we forget the latter part? How often do we live beneath the privileges of children of God? How often do we block the comforts of the Holy Spirit? Way too often.

Here’s the same verse from the Amplified Bible:

So the church throughout the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was edified [growing in wisdom, virtue, and piety] and walking in the respect and reverential fear of the Lord and in the consolation and exhortation of the Holy Spirit, continued to increase and was multiplied.  AMP)

Walking in the respect and reverential fear of the Lord and in the consolation and exhortation of the Holy Spirit. That’s what Christian living is all about. It’s not just about the fear of the Lord. It’s also about God’s gracious love and care towards us. It’s not just about being right with God. It’s also about being ministered by the Holy Spirit.

Do you live in the comfort of the Holy Spirit?
Do you let the Holy Spirit console and exhort you throughout the day?
Do you let the Holy Spirit minister to you according to your needs?

Why don’t we let God be God and fully surrender to his love and care? God’s will is always what’s best for us. Because God loves us beyond our capacity to understand it. Yet we can experience it when we allow the Holy Spirit move in and through us. Let’s not block God’s love and the care of the Holy Spirit from our lives. Because that’s when we grow in wisdom, virtue, and piety. Just like the early church.

 

Gracious God,
Show us how to live in the fear of the Lord
AND in the comfort of the Holy Spirit!
Show us how to grow in wisdom, virtue, and piety.
Enable us to live like you intended us to live.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Do you know how to live int he comfort of the Holy Spirit?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you live in the fear of the Lord AND in the comfort of the Holy Spirit!

Image courtesy of Jackie Almond, design Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Thought-Provoking Thursday, Faith-filled Fridays.