Pastor
Tom Johnson, August 16, 2015
Wisdom has built
her house. She has constructed a mansion in our community. She has built her
palace on the firm foundation seven pillars cut out of solid rock. And today is
open house. She has prepared a
feast. Her roasting fire is burning, her ovens are baking. She has mixed her
wines to maximize their aroma, flavor, and balance of taste. She has adorned
her table with the finest linen and utensils in her home. She sends out her
servant-girls. They have finished their work in the house. They are now have a mission
to do outside. They are evangelists sent out to proclaim the word of wisdom and
an invitation to join the party:
“You that are
simple—you without sense, come in and eat! Come and drink! Leave your
immaturity and foolishness behind and
live. Have wisdom as your companion on life’s journey. Wisdom will be a lamp
to your feet and a light to your path.”
She is so generous! But
also and odd and strange! Wisdom does not invite the wise. She does not invite the perceptive.
She does not invite the mature. She
invites those who are poor in spirit.
She invites those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Those who hear her call answer—only
answer—because they see themselves as poor, hungry, and thirsty souls. Pride gets
in the way of answering this call for “God has chosen the foolish things of the
world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to
shame the things which are strong” (1 Cor 1:27). This call goes out
to those who are teachable—to those
who are receptive to free and
extravagant gifts—to those who have a sober
self-assessment—to those who are humble
enough to admit that we often live our lives aimlessly and without purpose and
meaning.
How many times have we gotten out of bed in the morning without a sense
of mission? How often have we done what the world tells us to do and followed
our own noses? Sadly we often speak and act before we think. We lack a moral
compass when we do not filter our words and actions with wisdom. But wisdom
calls. Wisdom convicts
us, “What can you learn today about life, about others, and about yourself? How
can you grow to be a better and more loving person toward God and your neighbor?
Are you willing to receive God’s lavish and loving gifts?” Wisdom challenges
us to live: “Will you take a courageous step forward? Will you admit you
shortcomings, your weaknesses, your neediness, and failure to do what God
commands? When you hear the servant girls call out the simple, the immature, the
hungry, and the thirsty; do you say, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”
To accept the
servant girl’s invitation is to believe in grace—God’s
undeserved, unmerited, unearned gift—wisdom
for the immature, food for the hungry, and wine for the thirsty. To go to
Wisdom’s party is to celebrate the Gospel! In joy, we set our face like flint toward the home built on seven
rock-hewn pillars. Yes, our thinking is clouded, our stomachs growling, and our
mouths parched with thirst. But can you smell the smoke from wisdom’s kitchen?
Can you hear the utensils being set on the table? Wisdom is about to be served.
She calls you and me. “Thou preparest a
table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with
oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the
days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”
Wisdom sends out
her servant-girl Mary. “My soul magnifies the Lord,” she calls out, “and my spirit
rejoices in God my Savior…for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and
holy is his name…He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the
thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent
the rich away empty.” Wisdom sends out
her servant-girl Anna to the temple. Anna grows mature, in years, and in wisdom
as she tells others of the upcoming feast. She encourages those who were hungry
and thirsty to be open and receptive. She calls us to wisdom made flesh, Jesus. Wisdom sends out
her servant-girls Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. They go
to anoint Jesus’ dead body but instead find an angel and an empty grave. Wisdom
sends them out to the disciples with the message “He is risen and gone before
us into Galilee. We will see him just as he told us.”
Wisdom sends us
out as her servant-girls. You and I go to the highways and byways to invite the
undeserving, the immature, the sinful, the
starved and parched. We invite the whole world to a lavish feast. We get to
participate in the work and gift of wisdom. We don’t deserve it. We haven’t earned it. That should bring a smile and
joy to our hearts as we give thanks for all his benefits and go out to the
world with an honest message about who we truly are and how great God’s gifts
in Jesus Christ truly are. Jesus is our feast. He says “Believe in
God believe also in me. In my house are many rooms. I go to prepare a place for
you—your heavenly home built on the rock-hewn pillars of my death and
resurrection—my triumph over the devil and the grave. I give my Body for bread and my Blood for wine. Wisdom invites you.
Take, eat; drink of it all of you. Grow in humility, dependence, and faith.
Feast on my Word and promise to fill the hungry and satisfy the thirsty. Taste
and see that the Lord is good.”
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