Jaroslav Pelikan was a graduate of Concordia Seminary well before my time.  He taught at Harvard, translated some of the volumes of Luther’s works and much more.  To quote Yogi Bear, “he was smarter than the average bear.”   When I used to meet with parents prior to their child’s baptism, I would conclude by often pointing to the shelves full of books in my office.  I would say that no matter how much theological learning one had, it all comes down to what Pelikan said one time, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”  I thought of that when I read the request that God would “grant us humility and a childlike faith.”  And then the will and the follow through to carry out what determined I should do.

“O God, whose strength is made perfect in weakness, grant us humility and childlike faith that we may please You in both will and deed; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit one God, now and forever.”