It takes some special wisdom, understanding, and judgment to survive a career in law enforcement these days.
When I was a rookie southern California cop in the late 70′s, I used to listen to the old-timers talk about how police work had changed so much over the 20 or 30 years they had worn the badge. “It’s not like it used to be…” they would say. I didn’t believe them. Well, here it is a full 30 years later and today’s old timers are telling the rookies the same thing!
The profession has changed. It’s not so much in how good police work is conducted that has changed. I think it’s more in how the wisdom of our courts and governmental institutions seems to be deteriorating around us, making us take unprecedented precautions to keep us out of trouble and the bad guy off the street.
What used to be taken for granted, such as a professional officer’s sworn verbal testimony in court as being truthful, is no longer accepted as such. An Officer’s sworn testimony is in many cases regarded with less respect and greater skepticism than the defendant’s testimony. Read Isaiah 5:20 and Isaiah 59:14-15 and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
Nowdays, if you don’t have it on tape or video, it’s just your word against the defendant’s. It doesn’t matter that the defendant has a crim history longer than the Steeler’s record-breaking Super Bowl rush. It makes you wonder where the wisdom of the court has gone.
Have you made any New Year’s Resolutions yet this year? Here’s one to challenge you: Gain some wisdom from God this year. Begin each day of this year by reading a chapter from the book of Proverbs in the Bible.
It’s no coincidence that the Book of Proverbs in the Bible contains 31 Chapters. There is a Chapter for each day of the month. Read the chapter that corresponds with the day of the month, and keep this up every month all the way through the whole year. By this time next year you will have read the whole Book of Proverbs twelve times! I guarantee you that you will not have exhausted the gold mine wisdom contained in that one book of the Bible.
God shares His wisdom with us for a purpose, so let’s gain from it!
“[1] The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; [2] To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; [3] To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; [4] To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.” – Proverbs 1:1-4
As a professional group in America today, Law Enforcement holds the highest rates of suicide, divorce, addictive behavior, and stress-related diseases.
The difference between knowledge and wisdom is found in what you do with the knowledge you possess. Knowldege is just knowing stuff. Wisdom is the ability to use of your knowledge in a way that honors and glorfies the Lord.
Man’s “wisdom” rejects God and His Word.
“[5] Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. [6] Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. [7] Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” – Proverbs 4:5-7
Let me encourage you to get wisdom and understanding from the Word of God. Make it a priority in your life to seek after wisdom as you would seek after a bag of lost gold coins. You will be glad you did! (See also: “On Truth“)
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