Childlike Faith in God: Revealed to Babes

“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

From the wise and prudent, God has hidden the truth of Jesus' works. In this Gospel reading, Jesus rebukes "the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done." They're rebuked because the Almighty walked among them, performed miracles, offered them salvation and pardon for their sins, and still they did not believe.

It might seem unfair that God hid it from them. The 11th-century Archbishop of Ohrid, Theophylact, explained that God withholds His mysteries from the wise of the world not out of malice, but out of their unworthiness, and also out of love.

Growing a Childlike Faith in God

They're unworthy to receive the mysteries of Christ because they've chosen to trust their own wisdom instead of His. And the mysteries are withheld out of love, because God never forces anyone to accept Him. He's always ready to reveal His mysteries to the unworthy the moment they soften their heart to accept Jesus as Savior. That's why God has chosen babes instead: a childlike faith in God is pure in heart, able and willing to receive and produce good fruit.

We need to regularly examine our mindset toward the gospel, cultivating a childlike faith in God so that we always remember we are students of the Master, not masters of the students. Always improve the present moment.