Psalm 106:13 - But they soon forgot his works…

When kids see even the simplest magic trick, their minds are blown.

“HOW’D YOU DO THAT!?” they yell.

Then kids grow up a bit and become teenagers - all too often unimpressed with things like magic.

Then teenagers grow up a bit and become adults - all too often too busy to notice the magician or too cynical, immediately explaining away how the trick was done.

GK Chesterton - Orthodoxy - A child kicks his legs rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life. Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun; and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.

We’re supposed to have a certain childlike-ness. Jesus doesn’t simply tolerate kids, he welcomes them:

Matthew 19:13-14 - Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Being childlike in rebirth (being born again through faith in Jesus) and dependence on God through the Spirit isn’t quaint. It’s required:

Matthew 18:2-3 - And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Little children have fathers and we have one also:

Matthew 6:6,9 - when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you… Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name”

A Father who provides food for us. The next time you eat something, take a look at it. Really inspect it. How did it come to be?

How does it grow? Why does it taste so good? Who designed it? At the cellular level, how does it work?

Even a single, simple grape is hard to comprehend.

God, you made that! You’ve made it all! HOW’D YOU DO THAT!?

Ahhh, but we treat these things as common. Too often, too many of us are just like the Israelites:

Psalm 78:11 - They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them.

And this is one thing God can’t stand. The bar is so low for us and we still miss it. All we need to do is acknowledge him, his works, and believe in him:

Romans 1:21 - For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

God is the ultimate and only true Magician. He’s the only one who so comprehensively makes something from nothing. The crazy magicians and mentalists of our day like David Blaine and Oz Pearlman are using advanced tricks. And yet, even grumpy adults will become like kids when seeing their magic and say, “HOW’D YOU DO THAT!?”

And so, God, how’d you do this:

Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

HOW’D YOU DO THIS!?

Matthew 28:5-6a - But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.”

HOW CAN YOU DO THIS!?

Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 36:26-27 - I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts… And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

HOW’RE YOU DOING THIS!?

Revelation 21:5 - And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

Oh, God, change us to the uttermost in every way. That people see everything in our life and ask you, “HOW’D YOU DO THAT!?”

Help our hearts that wander. And replace it with wonder! Show us how to stay near you and to live in curiosity with a spirit that praises you, asking, “HOW’D YOU DO THAT!?” Re-new us. Restore our youth to us.

Psalm 9:1 - I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.