Wednesday, May 22, 2013

22 May 2013 - wise beyond our years

22 May 2013 - wise beyond our years

If one trusts her, he will possess her;
his descendants too will inherit her.

Wisdom is a gift to us before it is something at which we have to work.  But, like the parable of the talents, we must be good stewards of the gift to mature in it.

She walks with him as a stranger
and at first she puts him to the test;
Fear and dread she brings upon him
and tries him with her discipline
until she try him by her laws and trust his soul.

Wisdom is something that can't be separated from God's law.  It isn't simply prudence or discernment or cleverness.  The law of the LORD outlines the strategy for optimal human thriving and happiness.  Most people often think of law as burdensome and arbitrary.  We ourselves often see it this way if we are honest.  But the law exists to keep us from needless suffering.  It exists to teach us how to live a truly fulfilled existence.

Those who love your law have great peace,
and for them there is no stumbling block.

The law protects us from letting selfishness sabotage our choices.

“Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”

It is an understandable mistake.  They have a legitimate concern insofar as they want to make sure that people don't co-opt the name of Jesus for their own purposes.  But they fail by insisting that the people driving out demons follow them specifically rather than Jesus.  They undervalue that great triumph of driving out demons.  They should rather simply insist that they follow Jesus.

Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.

Wisdom clears the way for us to put all of our trust in Jesus.  She keeps us from the snares that turn us aside from his path.  Because true happiness can only be found in him let us pray for the wisdom to put him before all else.

Then she comes back to bring him happiness
and reveal her secrets to them
and she will heap upon him 
treasures of knowledge and an understanding of justice.






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