Contemplative Bible Reading

Luke 10:21 (New Living Translation)

21 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.

I think I’m pretty smart. I did well in school. I did well in an intellectual profession. Good for me.

Jesus thanks God for hiding some of the great truths and lessons from those who think they are pretty smart. They consider themselves to be wise and clever.

The truths from God are revealed to the childlike—not the child-ish, but the child-like. The childlike are humble. They stand in the back of the crowd. They can’t quite see what “everyone sees and knows.” They depend on others.

The childlike depend on others. That is it. The childlike know we need help. We know we need instruction. We know we cannot do it on our own. We need God.

Thank you God for helping the childlike. Thank you for providing what we cannot. Thank you for your grace that brings us to you and all we need. And please God, help the wise and clever to know what it means to need you.