The Enduring Influence of Spiritual Wisdom

UV 3419/10000 The Enduring Influence of Spiritual Wisdom
Those who are spiritually wise will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, will shine like the stars forever and ever.
Daniel 12 v 3

John Maxwell defines leadership as influence. If leadership is influence, then influence is spiritual wisdom. When we humble ourselves before God, we are deemed as spiritually wise. But those who consider themselves quite knowledgeable tend to be extremely allergic to spiritual wisdom as it reminds them of their poor choices. As someone said, in the race between ourselves and our choices, choices always win. The wise always place God above all things in their lives. Jesus described Himself as the Light of the world. His light will shine through and in our lives. Like the moon shines in the reflected light of the sun, we shine by reflecting the light of Jesus.

When we receive Jesus into our hearts as our Lord, Ruler and Saviour, we also receive a new spirit of righteousness, fear or utmost reverence of God, of excellence and wisdom. That Spirit transforms and sanctifies our hearts from within. IOC or inside out change begins in us. We are no longer controlled by foolish pride or wicked lusts. We are not wise in our own eyes or in the eyes of the world but we are wise in the eyes of the Lord for we have humbled ourselves to acknowledge that God is our deepest need. He satisfies our need to ignore the ephemeral in our lives and choose the eternal, the internal over the external. Scripture teaches us we are wise when we remain pure or morally and spiritually undefiled, peace-loving, gentle, reasonable, full of compassion and good fruits- fruit of good deeds as well as attributes of character of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self control.

The uni-verse also defines the role of wise leaders. Wise leaders while living righteous lives are to lead others who are in their circle of influence to righteousness. Jesus is the eternal leader and the righteous leader. He imparts or imputes His righteousness through the faith of His followers. When we follow Him we shine like stars forever as our testimony becomes our legacy. We will not fall or die like comets but our light will shine forth forever. We realize the secret that kings of yore did not know that the only way we can transfer our assets or riches from this life to the next is through our good deeds to meet real needs of people here and now. Though good deeds by itself are dirty rags before a righteous God, when it is accompanied by faith in His risen Son, it is aroma of the finest perfumes, it is riches far greater than the Kohinoor diamond, it is enduring and eternal fruit, it becomes our eternal treasure in heaven that neither moth nor rust can destroy nor be stolen by thieves and robbers.