So, some of you may be wondering why I said (above), "I'm not proud to say..." - isn't it good to follow the rules? Isn't that what is preferred and expected from a decent citizen of the world? Don't we want to please God by following His commandments and therefore the law?
As I learn more about living an authentic Christian life, I'm finding that, yes, Jesus did follow ALL of GOD'S LAWS perfectly. He led a sinless life. However, He DID NOT live a SAFE, CAUTIOUS life. He was considered a rebel that challenged the ways of the temple, the chief priests, the Pharisees and the Sadducees. He lived with, and ate with, and touched the outwardly sinful and unclean. This was detestable to the "wise and clever" teachers of the Law. We are asked to follow His ways and be bold, courageous - recklessly abandoned, when it comes to sharing what He has shared with us.
What did Jesus share with us? Love. Healing. Hope. Direction. Faith. Forgiveness. How do we share these treasures with others? Through sharing the gospel message. By sharing the good news of Jesus as our Lord and Savior to a sinful, needy, hopeless, broken and depraved generation.
We've seen this passage before in the gospel of Matthew. In my October 8, 2013 post called "Moving Forward" I focused on the the "who" of these words from Jesus. I shared about the "wise and understanding" vs. the "little children" and what groups these terms represent and the condition of their hearts in receiving "these things" from the Father.
"At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, 'O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.'" Luke 10:21
This time I'd like to take a look at the Father's actions in this verse. The actions that Jesus is thanking Him for. These actions are how God is hiding and revealing "these things".
First we need a little background. Jesus had put together a mission team of 70 or 72 men depending on which text you're reading from. These men are the "childlike" or "little children" referred to in our verse. They are from a humble class of poor untutored men, probably fishermen, artisans and such. These men welcomed Jesus' message and were glad to "Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.'" (Luke 10:9). Many were drawn to their message and received it. Others - the self-sufficient, wise and clever (ones God hid "these things" from) rejected His gospel.
Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and was thanking the Lord of heaven and earth. If I understand correctly, Jesus' joy was extra special in this case, more of an exultation with visible expression not typical to the Redeemer's inner man. He was "stoked" about the powerful success of this mission trip. These humble 72 were receiving the Master's "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:21, 23)
The Lord of heaven and earth is a title for God emphasizing his sovereignty and found only 3 times in the Bible. In God's sovereignty (divine control over all things) He has the power to reveal or to conceal Himself and His power to the potential believer. His treasure that He reveals or conceals is His true and holy Word and the good news of salvation through His One and Only Son. If a person's heart is teachable and receptive he reveals as He does to our "childlike" - if it is too proud, self-sufficient and hard He conceals His treasure. To some He reveals much, to some a little, depending on the level of ability and opportunity. The great news is that as long as we use the situations that He gives us and we seek to know more about Jesus and then, in turn, share His treasure with the world, we all get the same ultimate reward. What's that reward? More God glorifying opportunities to share His good news while on earth and an eternity in Heaven! Perhaps, just maybe we can even share Jesus and be received by those that were once concealed to for we know that "In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish." (Matthew 18:14) God gives us many chances to receive His Son as our Lord and Savior.
All of this said, and it is a lot I know, it spurs me on to want to be the "childlike" that God trusts to reveal His treasure with and go out and share it with others. I want to trust God to give me the courage I need to live outside my "playing it safe" natural bent and be recklessly abandoned, to not hold back in sharing God's love and good news.
Sidewalk Prophets' hit "Live Like That" spells out this lifestyle, this mission, this eternal perspective of sharing/investing Jesus' (the Master's) treasure (the gospel message in His true and holy Word) with others. Copy and Paste this link into your browser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfosSggwQS0
So how do we live a recklessly abandoned life if it's not our natural character? Praise God, not on our own strength. God gives us that too, just for the asking and trusting in His sovereignty. "In quietness and trust is your strength" (Isaiah 30:15). Everything we have and everything that we are comes from God and the most amazing part is HE REWARDS US for investing His treasure in others!! We just have to be humbly receptive and willing to share!
Jesus was filled with joy and gave thanks to His Father for good reason and so should we. Jesus was overjoyed that His followers believed and received Him. I praise God and give thanks to His Great Name for revealing His treasure and giving me the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God through Jesus Christ His Son!
"For God, who said, 'Light shall shine out of darkness,' is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves." (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)
"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b
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