Behold: El Elyon: The God Most High pt 4

Behold: El Elyon: The God Most High pt 4

Psalm 119:111 NIV
111
Your statutes are my heritage forever;� they are the joy of my heart

Matthew 22:14 KJV

14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

James 3:17 NIV

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Job 28 NIV

Interlude: Where Wisdom Is Found
28
There is a mine for silver� and a place where gold is refined.
2
Iron is taken from the earth,� and copper is smelted from ore.
3
Mortals put an end to the darkness;� they search out the farthest recesses� for ore in the blackest darkness.
4
Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft,� in places untouched by human feet;� far from other people they dangle and sway.
5
The earth, from which food comes,� is transformed below as by fire;
6
lapis lazuli comes from its rocks,� and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
7
No bird of prey knows that hidden path,� no falcon’s eye has seen it.
8
Proud beasts do not set foot on it,� and no lion prowls there.
9
People assault the flinty rock with their hands� and lay bare the roots of the mountains.
10
They tunnel through the rock;� their eyes see all its treasures.
11
They search[a] the sources of the rivers� and bring hidden things to light.
12
But where can wisdom be found?� Where does understanding dwell?
13
No mortal comprehends its worth;� it cannot be found in the land of the living.
14
The deep says, “It is not in me”;� the sea says, “It is not with me.”
15
It cannot be bought with the finest gold,� nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
16
It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,� with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
17
Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,� nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
18
Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention;� the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
19
The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it;� it cannot be bought with pure gold.
20
Where then does wisdom come from?� Where does understanding dwell?
21
It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,� concealed even from the birds in the sky.
22
Destruction[b] and Death say,� “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
23
God understands the way to it� and he alone knows where it dwells,
24
for he views the ends of the earth� and sees everything under the heavens.
25
When he established the force of the wind� and measured out the waters,
26
when he made a decree for the rain� and a path for the thunderstorm,
27
then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;� he confirmed it and tested it.
28
And he said to the human race,� “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,� and to shun evil is understanding.”

1 Peter 2:1-17 MSG

2 1-3 So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You’ve had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God.
The Stone
4-8 Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor. Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God. The Scriptures provide precedent:
Look! I’m setting a stone in Zion,� a cornerstone in the place of honor.�Whoever trusts in this stone as a foundation� will never have cause to regret it.
To you who trust him, he’s a Stone to be proud of, but to those who refuse to trust him,
The stone the workmen threw out� is now the chief foundation stone.
For the untrusting it’s
. . . a stone to trip over,� a boulder blocking the way.
They trip and fall because they refuse to obey, just as predicted.
9-10 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

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11-12 Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life in your neighborhood so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.
13-17 Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.

Psalm 119:1-3 NIV
Psalm 119[a]
‎א Aleph
1
Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,� who walk according to the law of the Lord.
2
Blessed are those who keep his statutes� and seek him with all their heart—
3
they do no wrong� but follow his ways.

Colossians 2:2-7 NIV

2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
Spiritual Fullness in Christ
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

1 Corinthians 12:31 NIV

31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

Love Is Indispensable
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

Purity, grace, and divine love

In Revelation 21:21, the gates of the New Jerusalem are described as “twelve pearls,” each gate a single pearl.