Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” (Matt. 11:25)
Power and influence buy you access in our culture. When you have something to offer, doors begin to open for you. You get the inside track. We all understand that this is just how the world works.
But the culture of the kingdom is different. In this passage, we see a glimpse into the alternative story that God is writing through His people. Jesus praised the Father for hiding revelation from the wise and giving it away to little children instead. This is yet another example of the great reversal, as we see Jesus turn conventional understanding on its head once again. The outsiders are becoming the insiders. The forgotten are the first thought. The last get moved to the front of the line.
Jesus often pointed to children as descriptions of (not distractions from) the kingdom. They are living windows into the heart of the Father. But why? They have nothing to offer. They lack power and influence. What do they bring to the table? That’s just it. Nothing. They are invited in by the pure grace of God. They have nothing to offer except persistent wonder, unbridled joy, and utter trust. It seems that these elements are the currency of this kingdom. May they be restored and renewed in us all today.
Rediscover childlike wonder, joy, and trust.
Matt LeRoy is coauthor of The Way Forwardand Awakening Grace(WPH).
