Luke 10:21-24: The wonder of election.(please click here)

There is something here about praise (21). Jesus practised what He preached. In the ‘same hour’ in which He spoke to His disciples about rejoicing, he Himself did it. Don’t just tell others what to do, show them. Show and tell. Don’t be a hypocrite. Jesus was rejoicing ‘in the Holy Spirit’ ( and The Spirit is essential to a life of consciously experienced joy) about spiritual realities. That was what He had told His disciples to do. Be like Jesus: give people an example to follow and not just words to hear.

There is something here about perception (21b, 22). Spiritual perception; sight and insight and understanding come as a gift. There is a mystery to this. ‘ I know not how the Spirit moves convincing men of sin…’ But we know that He does. He is as uncontrollable, unpredictable and untameable as the wind. No human can fully explain the doctrine of election, but when Jesus opens your eyes, and reveals the Father to you, you can say, ‘Once I was blind, but now I see.’ You are often surprised by the people who get converted. They are not necessarily the most likely candidates in your book (21). Remember, though, God does not have to explain Himself to anyone. And whenever He acts He does so in grace (21b). No one can know Jesus; can know God without a miracle of divine illumination in their hearts.

There is something here about privilege (23, 24). Similar words are written in 1 Peter 1:10-12, and, of course, Peter heard Jesus say these words. So keep sowing good seeds into people. You never know what good might emerge in later years. Peter was listening and maybe he never forgot. But even if He did, at the right time the Holy Spirit reached into the depths of Peter’s memory and pulled these things to the surface.

Prayer: Lord, it is an undeserved privilege to know you. Thank you for opening my eyes. Now I see so clearly, and it’s all because of you.