Matthew 11:16-19
16“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
17“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19The 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 deeds.”
Yesterday was confirmation Sunday at St. John. It was a red-letter day. Thirty-seven (37) young people confirmed their faith in Christ at the three services at St. John. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, god parents, friends and family – as well as members came for the day. Pictured above, Associate Pastor Stephen DeMik is in the middle of our “tag team” message about keeping the faith, and using the confirmands as an visual demonstration of some statistics we cited from a USA Today article from last week. These young people committed themselves to remain true to Jesus “even to the point of death.”
Jesus’ words at the end of verse 19, however, offer a sobering reminder. “Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds,” he says. It is one thing to say that you’ll be true, faithful, and committed. It is another thing to follow through on that commitment. Too often we fail.
But thanks be to God: We have a Savior who is eternally true to his word. Against the constant criticism of the people of his day Jesus remained true to God, to his mission, and to those he came to seek and save. When people criticized him for one thing, others found reason to criticize him for another. When he had satisfied one group another group would demand their due.
Jesus never sought simply to satisfy people, or to get the monkey off his back by his actions. He never tried to figure out how to spin someone or manipulate the crowds. He simply brought the wisdom of being faithful and obedient to God to bear on his whole life and teaching. He is now exalted at the right hand of God. His name is above every name. He is the King of kings, and Lord of lords. The wisdom of his life and being is proved right by his ultimate victory.
Talk is cheap. Truth is eternal. The proof is in the pudding.
Note: This photo is in response to a New York Times Photo Blog assignment to take a photo at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 2. One more bit of information: My “real camera” is in the shop, so I had to mount my P/S (Canon G9) on a tripod. So there is a whole lot of digital noise in this photo. But it surely does capture 10 a.m. at St. John, Cypress.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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