PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 11:16-19
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” (Matthew 11:19)
Jesus is frustrated with the people who are responding to him.
They accused John of being too ascetic, and Jesus of being too worldly.
But what he sees childish behaviour, kids singing a kids song.
In other words, they are not seeking wisdom but playing games.
Do we as christians play the same game when we encounter different views?
Do we right away point out what we don’t like, and call our opponents names?
We dismiss people who question traditional faith as liberals or revisionists.
We dismiss people who challenge newer ideas as close-minded traditionalists.
Wisdom goes deeper than the surface reaction, to discern if there is truth.
There is wisdom is John’s ascetism, and in Jesus’s generous hospitality.
There is wisdom in the perspective of tradition, and in post-modern critique.
But if we only act like children in the marketplace, we won’t hear it.
Time will tell where wisdom lies, and it won’t be in our words but in our deeds.
“Wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” (Matthew 11:19)
PRAYER
Lord, help me to move beyond the name-calling to hear the wisdom that is speaking to me in the people I disagree with.
“But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” All talk and all piety without action and care – it was a problem then and is a problem now. I hear way to many: you should do they, and they should do that or tell them to do this – but little action on their own. As someone close to me says – quit the yak and get doing instead. When it comes to loving our fellowman – responding to the needs of others or making choices when it comes to climate change – we have got to act – our deeds need to be consistent with who we are as followers of Jesus! The choices we make are telling! Lord help me to act on what you nudge me to do!
How do we recognize the Lord’s presence?
If we want to know Him we need to study Him and what He taught and follow Him – to live for Jesus. Open my eyes Lord so that I may see Your work in Your world also today. Help me daily to live according to Your word. And as I stand on the threshold of a new year help me to know Your will and live each day for Jesus.
I know not why God’s wondrous grace
to me is daily shown,
nor why, with mercy, Christ in love
redeemed me for his own.
Refrain:
But “I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I’ve committed
unto him against that day.”