The word "gullible" is not in the dictionary. Before you look, think about that statement and consider this verse:

"The naive believes everything, But the sensible man considers his steps." (Proverbs 14:15)

Often in the Proverbs wise and foolish people are compared and contrasted. For example:

"The naive inherit foolishness, But the sensible are crowned with knowledge." (Proverbs 14:18)

The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way, But the foolishness of fools is deceit." (Proverbs 14:8)

The greatest comparison of all between the wise person and the foolish person is Jesus' famous Sermon On the Mount:

"everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock." (Matthew 7:24)

"Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand." (Matthew 7:26)

Many of us consider ourselves to be "a people of The Book", an admirable quality. That implies that we are "heed-ers" as well as readers, which is perhaps the bigger challenge. Doing is more challenging than reading.

You've probably heard the statement made by Mark Twain, the famous writer, when asked if it troubled him that he didn't understand everything he read in the Bible. His reply was that he was more troubled by what he DID understand. Indeed, the clearest teachings of all concerning love, forgiveness, and decisiveness with sin are the most troubling because practicing these clear teachings is truly challenging.

The gospel of the kingdom that we declare is validated by the practice of the clear teachings concerning love, acceptance and holy living. The believability of our message is directly related to the personal practice of it in our lives.

May the dynamic Spirit of God within us continually enable and equip us as we both read the words and work on the walk.

Steve