A Journey to Easter - Day 20
- Debbra Stephens
- Mar 24
- 2 min read
“Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”
(Proverbs 8:34-36 ESV)
You might think you were reading a passage in the New Testament. This sounds just like something Jesus has said (John 1:4; 17:3). But the “me” here is wisdom speaking. The similarity isn’t confusing really. For the attribute of God personified as Lady Wisdom in Proverbs is actualized in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the wisdom of God. And whoever has the Son has life (1 John 5:12). Paul wrote to the Corinthians that Jesus became to us wisdom from God (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30). He embodies God’s wisdom and put it on full display. In wisdom, God’s redemptive plan has been displayed across history’s timeline. That wisdom is no more clear than in the Cross—as foolish as it seems to human intellect.
Wisdom resides in God. God’s wisdom is so infinitely deep and so infinitely expansive, that no more can be added to it. It is beyond measure... and improvement. He is the only wise God (Romans 16:27). But, in Christ, God extends His wisdom—an invitation. God sets before humanity a choice: the way of wisdom or that of folly.
Seeking God’s wisdom is foundational to our life in Christ. With it comes blessing, favor… life. To reject His wisdom brings harm. As Proverbs also teaches: Folly is the way to death.
The one who listens (which always includes an action of obedience), is the one who is blessed.
Since we, mere fallen humans, lack wisdom, it is crucial to heed the exhortation of James: Ask God, “who gives generously” (James 1:5-6).
Paul further teaches that God’s manifold wisdom is seen through the Church (Ephesians 3:10). Allowing the Word to dwell in us richly is how we instruct one another in wisdom and apply God’s wisdom in her administration of His grace (Colossians 3:16). Let us continually pray Colossians 1:9 for the Church, to exercise wisdom in all her deeds, to the honor of the glory of Christ Jesus.
It never ceases to amaze when the Bible proves that it is not two separate books, but one Word of God. It is wisdom indeed that neatly ties together a teaching in the Old Testament to its New Testament fulfillment in Christ—which is precisely what is happening here. Proverbs expounds, “Whoever has wisdom has life.” Jesus, very wisdom from God, has said, “Whoever has Me has life.” So, if you’re looking for wisdom, seek Jesus. And you’ll also find life.
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