Thought for January 9th. “WISDOM IS JUSTIFIED BY HER DEEDS”


What kind of “wisdom” is to be seen in the world today?  Wisdom is quite a contrast to “knowledge” – sometimes a total contrast. What a fascinating set of chapters we have to read – they illustrate the right kind of wisdom – heavenly wisdom, a wisdom that can be ours – if we will absorb them into our thinking.

This line of thinking was prompted by the words of Jesus in Matthew ch. 11 – about the attitudes of the people that surrounded him. Jesus asked, “But to what shall I compare this generation?”

[v.15,16]

  That generation had rejected John the Baptist and was going to reject Jesus.  Their rejection has clear parallels with the rejection of God’s word today.

“For John came,” says Jesus, “neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.”  In contrast, “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him!  A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’”

[v.18,19]

  How ‘blind’ the human mind has been – in every generation.  Today it is totally blind to the wonders of Creation – and therefore – of the Creator!

After his observations on all the negative attitudes towards John and himself Jesus declares that this“wisdom is justified by her deeds” 

[v.19]

“Deeds” could be translated as “children” as in some versions do this – meaning – this is what this kind of wisdom produces.  We see this “wisdom” increasingly flooding the world today – indeed, we could say it is drowning in it!

For some positive thoughts we turn, first to ch. 17 in Genesis.  Here we read of the promise God made to Abraham  “I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojourning’s, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

[v.8]

  That promise appears to be nearing its’ final stage toward fulfilment – in our lifetime!

Our final thought is from our Psalms reading – it is positive – and inspiring!  Psalm 20 “May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble! … May he send you help … May he grant you your heart’s desire … May we shout for joy over your salvation” 

[v.1,2,4,5]

We can add – with this “wisdom” and expectation in our hearts and minds we must all make this our prayer today – and in all coming days – echoing the final words of David in this Psalm,  “May he answer us when we call.”


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