Revealed to Infants

The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" Jesus said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” Luke 10:17-24 

One of my daughters, when learning to roller skate, reminded me that she did not need instruction because God had taught her to roller skate in heaven. She remembered clearly being taught but when she first took off on the skates, she didn't seem to remember the lessons. But her confidence in God taking time with her and equipping her with life skills has always inspired me. We too often doubt what God will do for us when we ask. 

Today we read about the return of the seventy two that were sent out. They were overjoyed by the work of the Holy Spirit. They had seen people healed and lives changed. They went out with anxiety and came back with great joy. They had been sent out with nothing and came back with everything! We are invited today to have the same confidence in God working in us as those first sent. We are invited to be as trusting and confident as beloved children. 

Today I ask God to restore our faith. May we be childlike in our faith\. May we trust that God has so much for us to go and so many more lives to change and miracles to provide. May we end this day with the joy of those first sent.