TO CHEW ON: "At that time Jesus answered and said, 'I thank You Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes'" Matthew 11:25.
The revealed things that Jesus is referring to in His prayer are the message and signs of John the Baptist, and His own miracles. They tell the people it is time to repent in order to be ready for the kingdom-of-heaven-life that Jesus represents. The people, especially in the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, have witnessed "these things." But the seeing has made little difference in their living.
It's interesting that the ones Jesus singles out as blinded are not the foolish and impulsive, but the "wise and prudent." Has it ever struck you that a certain quality of simple thought, childlike innocence, and willingness to trust even when it doesn't understand — anti-intellectualism if you will — seems to be a necessary part of a faith that pleases God?
Joyce Meyer in her book Battlefield of the Mind
says:"A large percentage of God's people are admittedly confused. Why?...reasoning.
[...] A simple way to say it is, reasoning occurs when a person tries to figure out the "why" behind something. Reasoning causes the mind to revolve around and around a situation, issue, or event attempting to understand all its intricate component parts. ...
Satan frequently steals the will of God from us due to reasoning. The Lord may direct us to do a certain thing, but if it does not make sense — if it is not logical — we may be tempted to disregard it. What God leads a person to do does not always make logical sense to his mind. His spirit may affirm it and his mind reject it, especially if it would be out of the ordinary or unpleasant or if it would require personal sacrifice or discomfort" - p. 86.
Have you ever reasoned yourself out of something you feel God has shown you or told you to do? I know I have.
I wonder, what are we missing out on when we let our logic and intellect override the promptings of the Holy Spirit. I'm sure if we knew both outcomes, we would understand that our apparent wisdom and prudence has not turned out to be wise and prudent at all!
PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to have the simple trusting faith of a child when it comes to acting on things You reveal to me and ask me to do. Amen.
MORE: Handel's Messiah Alert
George Handel quoted Matthew 11:30: "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" in the Messiah.
Here it is the Tafelmusik rendition of Jesus' encouraging words.
Except for His mercy and His patience, where would we be? I am SO thankful for both :)
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