Matthew 11:25-27
At that time Jesus
declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have
hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to
babes; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been
delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and
no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses
to reveal him."
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Do you want to know
the mind and thoughts of God? Jesus thanks the Father in heaven for revealing
to his disciples the wisdom and knowledge of God. What does Jesus' prayer tell
us about God and about ourselves? First, it tells us that God is both Father
and Lord of earth as well as heaven. He is both Creator and Author of all that
he has made, the first origin of everything and transcendent authority, and at
the same time, goodness and loving care for all his children. All fatherhood
and motherhood is derived from him. Jesus' prayer also contains a warning that
pride can keep us from the love and knowledge of God. What makes us ignorant
and blind to the things of God? Certainly intellectual pride, coldness of heart,
and stubbornness of will shut out God and his kingdom. Pride is the root of all
vice and the strongest influence propelling us to sin. It first vanquishes the
heart, making it cold and indifferent towards God. It also closes the mind to
God's truth and wisdom for our lives. What is pride? It is the inordinate love
of oneself at the expense of others and the exaggerated estimation of one's own
learning and importance.
Jesus contrasts
intellectual pride with child-like simplicity and humility. The simple of heart
are like "babes" in the sense that they see purely without pretense
and acknowledge their dependence and trust in the one who is greater, wiser,
and more trustworthy. They seek one thing – the "greatest good" who
is God himself. Simplicity of heart is wedded with humility, the queen of
virtues, because humility inclines the heart towards grace and truth. Just as
pride is the root of every sin and evil, so humility is the only soil in which
the grace of God can take root. It alone takes the right attitude before God
and allows him as God to do all. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to
the humble. Only the humble in heart can receive true wisdom and
understanding of God and his ways. Do you submit to God's word with simple
trust and humility?
Jesus makes a claim
which no one would have dared to make – he is the perfect revelation of God.
One of the greatest truths of the Christian faith is that we can know the
living God. Our knowledge of God is not simply limited to knowing something
about God, but we can know God personally. The essence of Christianity, and
what makes it distinct from Judaism and other religions, is the knowledge of
God as our Father. Jesus makes it possible for each of us to personally
know God as our Father. To see Jesus is to see what God is like. In Jesus we
see the perfect love of God – a God who cares intensely and who yearns over men
and women, loving them to the point of laying down his life for them upon the
Cross. Jesus is the revelation of God – a God who loves us completely,
unconditionally, and perfectly. Jesus also promises that God the Father will
hear our prayers when we pray in his name. That is why Jesus taught his
followers to pray with confidence, Our Father who art in heaven ..give us
this day our daily bread. Do you pray to your Father in heaven with
joy and confidence in his love and care for you?
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"Lord
Jesus, give me the child-like simplicity and purity of faith to gaze upon your
face with joy and confidence in your all-merciful love. Remove every doubt,
fear, and proud thought which would hinder me from receiving your word with
trust and humble submission."
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