Scripture in Action

Aneel Aranha is an author, preacher, and evangelist who has spoken to hundreds of thousands of people around the world. You can find a huge selection of his reflections, articles, sermons, songs and other resources on his app.

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Scripture in Action

Matthew 11:25-26 - The Freshness Principle

September 26, 2022 • Aneel Aranha • Season 1 • Episode 73

0:00 | 4:00

The Freshness Principle states: "Whenever you see something, or hear something, or do something, imagine you are seeing/hearing/doing it for the first time, even if you have seen/heard/done it a hundred times before.

Matthew 11:25-26 - The Freshness Principle

Hello and welcome to the Bite-Sized Gospel with Aneel Aranha. Today we will reflect on Matthew 11:25-26. Listen.

At that time 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. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

Jesus loved little children. I think this was because he found it very easy to talk to them. Innocent and unpretentious, children are easily teachable, unlike many adults who are so puffed up with knowledge they believe they are smarter than everybody else. Consequently, they are unteachable. I believe this is why the men Jesus called to follow him were simple (and perhaps illiterate). They would be prepared to listen to what he had to say and learn what he had to teach. Judas was the most intelligent of the twelve that Jesus chose, and there is probably a lesson there somewhere.

Now, being intelligent is not a bad thing, but it often gets in the way of discovering the truth. Being knowledgeable is not a bad thing either, but this too often makes one blind to things that should be obvious. One always has to be open to learning, open to looking at things from a different perspective, and open to the realization that one does not and cannot know everything. And the best thing one can do is wipe the blackboard of past knowledge and start afresh, doing this repeatedly over the years.

This is The Freshness Principle. Have you heard of it before? No, you couldn't have because I made it up. The Freshness Principle states: "Whenever you see something, or hear something, or do something, imagine you are seeing/hearing/doing it for the first time, even if you have seen/heard/done it a hundred times before." Isn't that cool? Now, if we apply The Freshness Principle to life, it can bring about a host of wonderful changes. Consider, for example, your relationship with your spouse.

How long have you been married? Five years? Ten? Fifteen? Longer? Well, you know as well as I do that relationships can get jaded, and the longer you are with someone, the more jaded it gets. Things that were once exciting now become dull. Things that the other person said that made you laugh now don't even bring a smile. Things your partner did that you would appreciate profusely now no longer merit a simple "Thank you." Know what I'm saying? Of course, you do! Now apply The Freshness Principle to your relationship. Imagine you are seeing your spouse for the first time, take her out on a "date," and see the difference it makes.

Do the same thing with your early morning breakfast. Or the prayers you say. Or, hey, with anything and everything. Enjoy life afresh!

May the Spirit be with you.

https://youtu.be/lsSYDmA8An0