In the words of Gerhard von Rod, "Wisdom is becoming competent with regard to the realities of life." It's this competency as it pertains to living the reality of life. Wisdom is insight and prudence. It's discernment and discretion. It's this ability to know what the right thing to do is, with the right strength in the right kind of way and with the right words. It’s what guides you when you look at the moral rules and they don't seem to be adequate. 

 I want to read from Proverbs 4:10-15: 

"Hear, my son, accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.  I have taught you the way of wisdom;  I have led you in the path of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil."

Notice how many times the words “path” or “way” or “walk” are used. This suggests that the way of wisdom is  walking on a particular path. Sometimes in this path of wisdom, our pace might quicken a bit. But most of the time, I think that wisdom is very intentional and slow. It’s one step forward, the next step forward, another step, and another step.

Here's the problem that all of us face: we really like those experiences in our Christian faith that are exciting and get us pumped up. Those are really helpful at times to serve as a sort of smelling salts. However, wisdom is gained in this intentional, one step forward kind of way. Not all at once. For many of us, this feels a bit unproductive. It feels boring. It doesn't feel like it's a good use of our time because we tend to want results very quickly. Let me suggest to you today that the path of wisdom is going to be mostly lived in the ordinary. It's not about getting fired up, pumped up, and passionate all the time.The path to attaining wisdom can often feel boring and unpredictable. Yet, this is the path that we're supposed to walk on daily. 

Let me read from Michael Horton in his very good book, Ordinary:" I've come to the point where I'm not sure anymore just what God counts as radical. And I suspect that for me getting up and doing the dishes when I'm short on sleep and patience is far more costly and necessitates more of a revolution in my heart than some of the more outwardly risky ways I've lived in the past. And so this is what I need now. The courage to face an ordinary day - an afternoon with a colicky baby where I'm probably going to snap at my two-year-old and get annoyed with my noisy neighbor - without despair. The bravery it takes to believe that a small life is still a meaningful life and the grace to know that even when I've done nothing that is powerful or bold, or even interesting, that the Lord notices me and is fond of me. And that is enough."

Prayer for Today Father in heaven, our simple prayer for today is this: You are enough. Our days are mostly lived in the ordinary. Give us great faith and courage and bravery to take the step-by-step movement forward on the path of wisdom in the ordinary. We ask this now in Jesus name, amen.