January 15, 2011 Forward Motion Faith

Party Faith

I know.  Here we go again.  I am a grandfather and I’m making it a habit of watching her and using her life, actions and growth patterns to illustrate faith.  I can’t really help it.  I could I guess…but why would I?  Really, people…give me a break!

I went to my granddaughter’s second birthday party tonight.  I wasn’t a big deal, no bells and whistles.  Just some family and friends that Josh and Natalie had invited who also brought along their children.  I can tell you this – I would never make a good day care manager.  Oh my Lord!   It was awesome to watch as a guest but I in no way could run a day care with 12 or 15 kids running around with energy that flows in from outer space somewhere!  Amazing to watch and fun to interact with!  I loved it!  Of course my granddaughter was cool during the whole event.

Josh and Natalie’s guests laughed, shared stories, ate soup (most were fasting) and watched the kids play and eat cool mini cupcakes Natalie had made.  By the way, my daughter-in-law makes a mean potato soup!   As usual, I begin seeing some parallels to our faith life.   I will call this blog tonight “party faith.”  Yeah!  Forward Motion Party Faith!

I watched the kids play tonight and was reminded of something Jesus himself said. 

• Mark 10:15  “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

What was Jesus talking about?  Party faith.  Plain and simple.  You see I watched the kids play tonight.  I watched them eat their cupcakes, potato chips, soup and yes, the ever-present manna from heaven at all parties – pizza!  (Of course after fasting for nearly two weeks I was drooling like a crazy man at the sight of mere pepperoni on a pizza.  But my discipline held off and I managed to stay with the soup!)  I remembered that Jesus said that if we don’t receive the kingdom of God as a child we would not enter into it.  Pretty powerful statement! 

Let me share with you some observations I made tonight:

• The kids were dependent on their parents.   No NASA survey needed on this one.  They couldn’t have even come to the party unless an adult brought them.  Our Father in heaven watches over us.  He moves us by the influence of His Spirit when we are dependent on Him.   Would to God that we wouldn’t go anywhere that we didn’t realize He was there with us.  It’s the “never leave us or forsake us” principle at work.
• The kids were served.  They were sat down and brought plates with amounts of foods chosen by the parents.  Not too much pizza, not too many chips and make sure the lid is on the sippie cup – don’t want any unnecessary spillage!  With the Lord it is the same.  He gives us just the right amount of spiritual food.  He knows our desires and He knows our needs.  He wants us satisfied but He doesn’t want us eating that which is not good for us.  He doesn’t want any spillage on the “sippie cup” of new wine (Matthew 9.17).
• Their hurts were cared for with loving compassion.  One little fella bumped his head on a table.  His cry and his tears were quickly swallowed up by a young mother who cradled the little guy and checked him over to be sure the “boo boo” wasn’t to serious.   He seemed to be fine after the reassuring touch of his mother.  God is the same way.  He cradles us when we hurt.  He dries our tears and He holds us until He knows the “boo boo” is not going to handicap usin any way.
• They worked out their differences.  Kids will be kids.  There was an occasional push and shove.  Nothing rough or violent.  Just kids vying for “toy territory.”  There was an occasional disgruntled look from one to another but nothing to worry about.  There was an attempt to cut in line but it didn’t go anywhere – it seemed to work itself out without any bruises or running to mommy or daddy.  It just worked out.  Isn’t that the way God wants it to be for us in His kingdom?  Play together.  Know that from time to time there will some disgruntled looks, a few passive “shoves” and once in a while an attempt to “take cuts” in a spiritual line of competition – and in the end we can all play together until we’re exhausted.
• They were unaware of just how innocent they were.  They played without fear of intimidation or being hurt in any way.  Parents and grandparents did the helicopter thing – hovered over the kids like a low flying helicopter.  They played without knowing a possible threat loomed in the darkness.  They played without the ability to hear news reports of children their age being molested, abused, hurt and or abandoned.  They were not mature enough to understand that evil could possibly be a few seconds away from their little innocent lives.  They played without the maturity to know or even perceive evil and wickedness to the degree that we as adults have seen it. 

Wouldn’t it be cool if our fasting season taught us to approach the kingdom of our Lord the same way these kids played tonight?  Dependent on Him at all times!  Allowing Him to serve us His will for spiritual dietary needs!  Let Him care for our hurts without our holding grudges or even being unforgiving!  Work out our differences with childlike respect of each other.  Last but not least moving forward in faith with such innocence that evil and the forces of darkness don’t even warrant as much as a second thought from us – because after all, our Father is watching over us.

Fast people, fast.  Approach the kingdom as a child.

What was that?  A little more broccoli?  Come on Dad? Oh alright…you know better than I what I need!