With all your peacock strutting, you are going to end up in the abyss. If the people of Sodom had had your chances, the city would still be around. …Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: “Thank You Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way you like to work” (Mt. 11:22-27 MSG).
In Matthew’s gospel Jesus is talking to the people in Chorazin and Bethsaida. He’s been working feverishly in these cities and people have shrugged their cold shoulders and gone their own way.
“Doom Chorazin! Doom Bethsaida!” (Mt. 11:21). Jesus heatedly said that if ordinary people witnessed His work, they’d respond warmer than this superficially superior crowd in Chorazin and Bethsaida did.
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I resemble Chorazin sophisticates when I half-heartedly listen to God’s guidance. Like the Bethsaidans, sometimes I don’t even pause to acknowledge His presence.
By the world’s financial standards, I am one of the ordinaries Jesus referenced. When I remember that I’m common folk, I invite affluent warmth from God’s spirit to heat my heart. However, when I allow frigid, sometimes frozen responses to God’s continual Presence, I reside in a spiritual igloo.
Jesus acknowledges that God conceals His wisdom to the cold-hearted and exposes it to the common, the seeking, the poor.
Jesus, remind me that You created ordinary people to teach Your all-knowing ways. Protect me from lukewarm mentality. Infuse Your balm into my spirit.
Resting in God’s insulated lily pad,
Christina