Luke 8:15-17
People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back. “Let these children alone. Don’t get between them and me. These children are the kingdom’s pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
One of Timothy’s first books was called Inside Noah’s Ark* by Charles Reasoner. My mom bought this “board book” for him, and it didn’t take long for Timothy to learn the rhyming phrases on each page. “Load the animals, two by two – here on Noah’s floating zoo”, the first lines say…and we “loaded” the ark countless times. I read other “God books” to Timothy…simple prayers for children, Bible stories, and a particularly special book that explored the question, “Where is God?”
I have always marveled at Timothy’s acceptance of God. He has asked a few insightful questions about why we cannot see God…and where is He, really?...but he readily accepts that God is everywhere – that He lives in our hearts and is with us at all times. I believe he truly loves God as much as any five-year-old can. He is learning about the importance of living in a way that pleases God…and it appears to be important to him to do this. We’ve read stories about Jonah and others who did not obey God and suffered the consequences. I feel like Timothy and his siblings are developing a very good grasp of just how much God loves them…and they are developing a desire to honor and obey Him.
The question seems to be…when do we lose this innocence and purity of heart? At what age/life stage do we start to really question God’s authenticity…and His presence? More importantly, WHY do we do this? There are dozens of answers, ranging from the development of an intellect that causes us to question everything to peer pressure to a heightened sense of ego and self-sufficiency that can often lead to rebellion…or some catastrophic event that kicks us in the gut and leaves us feeling “punished” or abandoned by God.
Regardless of the causes, the bottom line is that we need to return to “child-like faith” and trust God more readily. It’s okay to have questions…God welcomes them, and He will provide the answers if/when we are willing to seek His guidance. It’s okay to be confident and believe in yourself – to a point. But rather than criticize or demean those who seem to rely on God and follow His lead with something akin to “wild abandon,” we would do well to “let go and let God” a little more and adapt their approach.
Sometimes, reverting to your childhood can be a good thing…and when it comes to your faith in God and the attitudes of your heart, it’s most definitely good to be a kid again. Are you ready to trust God with the simplicity of a child? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
*http://www.amazon.com/dp/0843148853/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=ICIIN9FURNLT&coliid=I1AX4856YA4WRD
Showing posts with label abandonment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label abandonment. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for June 5, 2012
Deuteronomy 4:29-31
But even there, if you seek God, your God, you'll be able to find him if you're serious, looking for him with your whole heart and soul. When troubles come and all these awful things happen to you, in future days you will come back to God, your God, and listen obediently to what he says. God, your God, is above all a compassionate God. In the end he will not abandon you, he won't bring you to ruin, he won't forget the covenant with your ancestors which he swore to them.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In the movie Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, the lead character, Oskar (played by Thomas Horn) searches for the lock that matches a mysterious key he finds after his father (played by Tom Hanks) perishes in the Twin Towers on 9-11. One of the clues Oskar has is a newspaper clipping from his dad that contains the words “never stop looking” circled in red… or so it appears.
I won’t give away the story line, in case you haven’t seen the movie. But suffice it to say that Oskar looks with his whole heart and soul for the lock to this key. In the terrible, awful tragedy of losing his dad in such a horrific manner, Oskar draws strength from the lessons his father taught him… how to examine and investigate mysteries… how to “read” the clues and follow the signs to find what he is seeking… and how his dad is always with him every step of the way – even if he can’t physically see or touch him.
There are a lot of parallels in this movie to our life in Christ. We are often the scared, frail, flawed little boy who seeks answers to life’s questions and mysteries. We are mired in grief and confusion, heartaches and disappointments… and the uncertainty of what lies ahead. And God is with us every step of the way. He is protecting us and leading us in the right direction. He is giving us all kinds of nurture that we cannot even imagine… much less see.
We often have a little pity party and feel downright sorry for ourselves. We imagine that we are all alone in this big wide world, and that God has abandoned us. Nothing could be further from the truth. If we knew all of the things that God protects us from each and every day, we would be astounded. We tend to deal only in what we can tangibly see, hear, and touch. Yet God is always with us… often working in the background… but working all the same on our behalf.
Our job is to seek God - not just in the logical places… but also in the intangible. We must open our eyes and ears to His clues and guidance… and never stop looking for Him. We must trust – and expect – Him to always be with us… and to honor His commitment to protect us with grace, mercy, and abiding love. God has given us the “key” to unlock all that He has in store for us. Our job is to never stop looking. Are you searching for Him with your whole heart? How serious are you about finding Him?
©2012 Debbie Robus
But even there, if you seek God, your God, you'll be able to find him if you're serious, looking for him with your whole heart and soul. When troubles come and all these awful things happen to you, in future days you will come back to God, your God, and listen obediently to what he says. God, your God, is above all a compassionate God. In the end he will not abandon you, he won't bring you to ruin, he won't forget the covenant with your ancestors which he swore to them.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In the movie Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, the lead character, Oskar (played by Thomas Horn) searches for the lock that matches a mysterious key he finds after his father (played by Tom Hanks) perishes in the Twin Towers on 9-11. One of the clues Oskar has is a newspaper clipping from his dad that contains the words “never stop looking” circled in red… or so it appears.
I won’t give away the story line, in case you haven’t seen the movie. But suffice it to say that Oskar looks with his whole heart and soul for the lock to this key. In the terrible, awful tragedy of losing his dad in such a horrific manner, Oskar draws strength from the lessons his father taught him… how to examine and investigate mysteries… how to “read” the clues and follow the signs to find what he is seeking… and how his dad is always with him every step of the way – even if he can’t physically see or touch him.
There are a lot of parallels in this movie to our life in Christ. We are often the scared, frail, flawed little boy who seeks answers to life’s questions and mysteries. We are mired in grief and confusion, heartaches and disappointments… and the uncertainty of what lies ahead. And God is with us every step of the way. He is protecting us and leading us in the right direction. He is giving us all kinds of nurture that we cannot even imagine… much less see.
We often have a little pity party and feel downright sorry for ourselves. We imagine that we are all alone in this big wide world, and that God has abandoned us. Nothing could be further from the truth. If we knew all of the things that God protects us from each and every day, we would be astounded. We tend to deal only in what we can tangibly see, hear, and touch. Yet God is always with us… often working in the background… but working all the same on our behalf.
Our job is to seek God - not just in the logical places… but also in the intangible. We must open our eyes and ears to His clues and guidance… and never stop looking for Him. We must trust – and expect – Him to always be with us… and to honor His commitment to protect us with grace, mercy, and abiding love. God has given us the “key” to unlock all that He has in store for us. Our job is to never stop looking. Are you searching for Him with your whole heart? How serious are you about finding Him?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)