Most Wise and Worthy Name

Scotty Smith post:  A Prayer About the Magi and True Wisdom

A Prayer About the Magi and True Wisdom

     When they (the Magi) saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11

     Dear Jesus, whether they were magicians, astronomers or astrologers… whether there were three, nine or seventeen of them, it makes absolutely no difference. The Magi were wise men and they show us the way of true wisdom, because they lead us to you, not to a library or a school of philosophers.
     At Advent you became wisdom from God for us, Jesus—“that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30). It’s great to have conundrum-solving and decision-making wisdom, but better-by-far to have the Wisdom that makes us right with God. The incarnation of Wisdom tops propositions of wisdom immeasurable times over. That’s why we boast only in you, Jesus, and not in ourselves and our so-called “wisdom.”
     In fact, you’re the real seeker in the story of the Magi. Promises of your coming, an irrepressible calling, a providential star, a Spirit-generated joy…. how we praise you for drawing men and women to yourself from every period of history… every family of humanity… and every segment of society, including these Persian star-gazers and ourselves. Come Herod or high-water, those you’ve come to save will come to you, Jesus.
     My prayer for this Advent season is quite simple. Jesus. Please reveal more and more of your glory and grace to our hearts. We want to bow before you quicker, lower and with more joy than ever, O majestic and merciful King.
     Open the eyes of our hearts a bit wider to behold the great hope to which you’ve called us in the gospel. Deepen our adoration of you, Jesus… and loosen our grip on our so-called treasures. What do we have that you haven’t given us? What can we give back to you in celebration of our stewardship and your ownership of all things? So very Amen, we pray, in your most wise and worthy name.