THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 7:31-35
“But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” (Luke 7:35)
Jesus is responding to the fickle criticisms of the religious leaders.
John has a demon because he fasts, Jesus is a glutton because He doesn’t.
Like children, one day they’re happy (dancing) and the next they’re sad (singing a dirge).
They judge God, life and everyone else by their unstable thoughts and emotions.
And they expect everyone and everything else to follow their tune.
Wisdom is not fickle like this, it is true no matter what we think or feel.
The truth is true, no matter how obstinate or foolish our response may be.
The ‘wisdom is proved right’ saying is another way of saying ‘you’ll see who’s right’.
Jesus’ message of radical love (Luke 6:27-36) will be proven right one day.
The results (or ‘children’) of loving like this will show that He was right.
Think about it, do the fickle, selfish ways of humanity make the world a better place?
Would the ways of God – if lived out – make the world a better place?
The failure of the Church to live out Jesus’ Way is not proof that His Way is wrong.
It is proof that people, including Christians, are too fickle to follow it through.
“Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.” (G.K.Chesterton)
The Jesus Way, as difficult as it sounds, is true and will one day be shown to be true.
Many people ridicule or reject Jesus’ Way like the religious leaders did then.
But one day they will see they were wrong.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, Your Way is what we need, what the world needs, to restore love, joy and peace for all. Keep on inspiring and enabling us by Your Spirit to prove the wisdom of Your Way.
Observations/Application
There is a time for everything under the sun says the Preacher and yet these children are out of place. Children in the marketplace? Children that act out and imitate he somberness of John and the good news of Jesus Christ? The message of both came to deaf ears. Their hearts were closed.
And so today we need open hearts and open minds and open ears to hear God’s voice speaking clearly – this is the way. Walk in it. Ten truly we can enjoy each day in the joy of our Lord God who is our strength.
I saw raindrops on my window, Joy is like the rain.
Laughter runs across my pain, slips away and comes again.
Joy is like the rain.
I saw clouds upon a mountain, Joy is like a cloud.
Sometimes silver, sometimes gray, always sun not far away.
Joy is like a cloud.
I saw Christ in wind and thunder, Joy is tried by storm.
Christ asleep within my boat, whipped by wind, yet still afloat.
Joy is tried by storm.
I saw raindrops on the river, Joy is like the rain.
Bit by bit the river grows, till all at once it overflows.
Joy is like the rain.