Infants vs. Intellectuals

Matthew 11:25-30 At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. (26) "Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. (27) "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. (28) "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. (29) "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. (30) "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

A few weeks ago, I had a serious conversation with a dear friend and the last verse in this passage was discussed.  Since then, I've done a lot of researching, praying and reading on this passage.  In fact, at my request, Pastor PJ Lewis recently sent me his sermon on this particular passage.

 

Wow.

 

I used to think the passage was ONLY about salvation.  It is, but it is so much more!

 

How does Jesus want us to come to Him?

Like infants.

How many infants do you know who are living independent of their parents?  How many babies do you see driving SUVs, purchasing the food they want to eat and changing their own diapers?  Zilch. Nada. Zero.

 

If infants weren't helpless, fragile and so needy...it wouldn't matter if young mothers, who didn't want them, dumped their babies into a trashcan or dumpster.  They'd be able to climb out on their own and save themselves.  But we all know this is way wrong.  We all know that if that baby is left there too long, unfound, it will starve to death.  It will die.

 

Infants are 100% dependent on their parent(s) to give them every thing they need.  Not to be gross or anything, but they cannot even control when they soil their diapers!  Much less, they cannot control when they sleep or wake up...though you do see them struggle to stay awake, etc.

 

That's how God wants us to come to Him.  To Jesus.  Totally dependent on Him to provide everything we need.  He works through us for His glory and our good.

 

Are you an infant or are you an intellectual?  Are you proud, thinking you've got all of this Christian life figured out?  Or are you humble, realizing you cannot do anything for Jesus on your own?

 

When we are totally dependent upon Jesus, today's PW Devo seems like a no brainer. 

 

More later...

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

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Walk This Way: Share Posted: 20 Mar 2010 02:01 PM PDT "Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." (Romans 12:13) What's amazing about this list from Romans 12 that describes how Christians live, how we follow after Jesus in all kind of practical ways, is that it doesn't explain anything. It's just one short, punchy command after another. What does it mean for someone to be "in need"? What about needy people who are not Christians? How much of my money or food or stuff should I share? What if I'm not good at hospitality? What if I don't feel comfortable with people in my house or car or heart? What if I don't have a house or a car? No answers; just do it. It's a human trait to make things more complicated than they have to be. If you know of a Christian in need, share with them. Find a way to use your life and possessions to make other people feel at home. Thats' what Christians do. Period. Think: Do you know any of God's people who are in need? What do you have that you could share with them? How soon could you make that happen? Pray: Ask God to help you to share with God's people who are in need and to practice hospitality. Do: Notice some Christians in your life who use practice hospitality really well and what difference it makes for those who receive it.

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Mary E.Hickcox
www.CalvaryBaptistSM.org
http://mary-neotes.blogspot.com/