“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 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!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her children.” Matthew 11:16-19
Devotional Thought For The Day
Generally Christians look for the upside of things, are optimistic, and want to think the best of others. This is a good thing, usually, unless it is covering up some gross evil or leaves in place an improper and unhealthy orientation and commitment. Nonetheless, Christians remain committed to all that is good and right and opposed to all that is evil. This means that we are often at odds with the people around us who have not been blessed with an enlightened and renewed spirit and mind. When the unbelieving, whether those espousing and boldly living in immorality, or those committed to legalism, self-righteousness, and hypocrisy, observe Christians and interact with us, they usually feel compelled to accuse. Feeling the sting of opposition to and condemnation of their own immorality and/or faithlessness, they are compelled to find grounds to attack those who belong to God’s grace, the members of His family. Even Jesus and John the Baptist suffered the same. Whether we are engaging in highly pious and religious behavior, or living morally but enjoying the good things in life, accusations and condemnation are sure to come.
The insight and clarity of thought exhibited by Jesus is marvelous. We are often confused by the condemnation of the world around us, accepting that their accusations must have some merit [in that we are humbly aware that we continue to struggle against our sinful flesh, honestly confess our sins to God, and rejoice to live in His mercy and forgiveness]. But this lands us in an endless cycle of guilt and unrest. We are guilty if living in piety and self-denial [and are made to feel hypocritical, insane, and perhaps even demonic]. We are also guilty if we are living plainly and normally, enjoying the good things God has provided for us [and are made to feel spiritually weak, self-indulgent, and unsanctified]. This is surely a trick of the devil, by which he seeks to denude us of all peace and joy, and to erode away our commitment to and orientation toward God. When entrapped in such a cycle our faith and love become inert, ham-strung by these accusations and guilt.
The problem, as identified by Jesus, is that we will never succeed in explaining our behavior as children of the kingdom to those who are outside of the kingdom – who are interested only in plaguing us and not in the truth. The children of this world want to call the dance which rejoices in wickedness and to play the dirge when it comes to rightfully enjoying the blessings of God – as if there is no difference. But as Jesus judges, it is appropriate when we repent with John and also when we rejoice to live freely in God’s gracious mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus, sanctifying all things by the word of God and prayer [1 Tim. 4:4.5] – all in contrast and opposition to the world’s piping and judgment. Jesus speaks the truth when He pronounces that “Wisdom is justified by her children” [her fruits, or her deeds]. For it is a truthful, honest, and godly thing to repent and confess our sins and strive to sin no more, and it is also a truthful, honest, and godly thing to live in faith, joy, and freedom, utilizing and thanking God for all of the gifts He has blessed human life with. As Jesus well knows, in the end the fruit will demonstrate the rightness of the lives of justified and sanctified believers. [Matt. 25:34-46]
Sadly, when Christians become confused by these false judgments made by the world, they may attempt to bring these same judgments into the church – so that we end up being accused and condemned by both those outside of the church and some within the visible institutions of the church. The devil takes great delight in this – essentially and effectively sending his moles into the fellowship of Christ to plague Christians and to destroy the life of the church, to denude us of certainty and our joy in Christ. We must not allow this to happen, for it will do us no good to forsake “wisdom” and lose its fruits. So the wise within the kingdom will generally look for the upside and be more optimistic and supportive of our fellow believers, and will take great care not to become such spiritual “experts” that we end up condemning even John and Jesus, by our condemnation of humble and faithful believers. Luther warns us of how treacherous and common this is, in one of the Heidelberg theses: “A theology of glory calls evil good and good evil. A theology of the cross calls the thing what it actually is.” The theology of the cross is the wisdom of God [1 Cor. 1:17-31], so let us remain in it.
Scripture Cited
1 Tim. 4:4,5 “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, help us to understand that when the world condemns us it does so not for our good but for our misery and destruction, and to justify its continued unbelief. Forbid that such false judgment enter into the fellowship of Your people, and defend us at all times. Keep us firm in proper piety, humble repentance, and pure commitment to all that is good and right. Continue to bring forth the fruits of wisdom in our lives. Amen.