December 8, 2022 -- Proverbs 8:32-36 & Luke 8:16-18 -- Journey to Christmas through Proverbs and Luke

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“And now, O sons, listen to me:
    blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
    and do not neglect it.
34 Blessed is the one who listens to me,
    watching daily at my gates,
    waiting beside my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life
    and obtains favor from the LORD,
36 but he who fails to find me injures himself;
    all who hate me love death.”
Proverbs 8:32-36 ESV

“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. 18 Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”
Luke 8:16-18 ESV

Remember that commitment, those of you who made it, to read one chapter of Proverbs each day and one chapter of Luke. The goal is to spend 17 minutes in a time of Bible reading, reflection and prayer—17 minutes is a about one tenth of the non-work screen time the average Canadian watches a day.

The Proverbs picture the one seeking wisdom as one excited for news about wisdom. Think of the times tourists stand at the gates of Buckingham Palace in London, UK, hoping to see the changing of the guards. Or think of a student who loves a professor’s class and waits at his door in order to be the first in line for his office time so he can ask questions. There is a warning: the way of wisdom is life; the lack of wisdom is death. The language is stronger, it is self-injury, and a love of death. Wisdom is life for the believer; and the lack of wisdom leads to more and more harm and ultimately death away from God.

Wisdom is light, in the Gospel of Luke. It is Jesus Himself. When one’s life has the Light of Christ shining out this light cannot be hidden. New life in Christ catches everyone’s attention. Just like a display of Christmas lights that decorate a house on a cold winter’s night, so the light of Christ shines out and makes people notice. The Light of Christ will clearly show your sins and require you to confess what is going on in your life. This is why some people would try and hide the light of which they might otherwise take hold. They do not desire the extreme transformation which Christ brings. For such people, who fool themselves into thinking they are something when they are not, try to hide the little light they and whatever light and knowledge they had will be taken from them. They will be thrown into the torment and eternal punishment of hell.

As Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice, so lift up the light of Thy countenance upon us, and make us glad with the tokens of Thy love. Be Thou with us, O Lord, and let Thy grace follow us this day, and all the days of our life. Be Thou our Guide unto death, in death our Comfort, and, after death, our Portion and Happiness everlasting--Amen.
Benjamin Jenks (1646-1724)

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