December 24, 2022 -- Proverbs 24:3-7 & Luke 24:25-27 -- Journey to Christmas through Proverbs and Luke: wisdom has built the house
/By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is full of strength,
and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war,
and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool;
in the gate he does not open his mouth.
Proverbs 24:3-7 ESV
And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:25-27 ESV
Today’s reading is from the last chapter of Luke. Jesus, now risen from the dead, His identity hidden, is explaining to Cleopas and his friend why the Christ had to suffer. He opened all the Scriptures to them, that is, the Old Testament, and showed them how the whole Old Testament pointed to the love of God. The Father showed such love and steadfast faithfulness which brought heaven down, in the form of Jesus, the babe in the manger.
The eyes of faith see the sweep of history and know the Father’s love is stamped all over it. The grace of Jesus Christ, all of His earthly life, and especially His passion, conquers sin and hell and the grave. The Spirit of God fuels Christians so that they see how all of life and all of history finds its fullest meaning in Jesus Christ. The Spirit of God enables Christians to seek wisdom and understanding in the events of Christmas and beyond.
As Christians celebrate Christmas, consider the treasures of wisdom to which today’s reading in Proverbs referred. Jesus is wisdom from on high. Jesus has torn down the old house of sin and shame and guilt. That is your old, sinful life. It is dead and gone. Jesus has rebuilt your life. He is making you a temple, a place where He lives by His Spirit. Jesus is filling your life with understanding. Right and wrong are not concepts to be decided by majority vote. God the Father gives wisdom through Jesus and the Spirit helps the believer understand the power God the Triune has placed in all that is right. All that is right and true brings honour and blessing to His Name.
My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace
among those with whom He is pleased.
Today's prayer is: Luke 1:46-55, 2:14
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