Hi
Where were you during the Blizzard of 2017? Ooooooh, the snow was moving. About 20 or 24 inches of precipitation in less than a day, with a few wind gusts – though not as powerful as threatened (thank God). For as a seasoned Caribbean national accustomed to hurricanes, I KNEW this snurricane was DEFINITELY no laughing matter. I’m glad I enjoyed it from the benefit of my room. Moreover, I KNEW WHO was in control of this storm. And that’s part of what is important for us to savor in today’s Holy Nougatâ„¢ Ready to try?
Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them … So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 18:2, 4 NLT
This was similar to the statement Jesus made to Nicodemus in that somewhat clandestine visit. “Unless you are born again, you cannot be born again.”
As my seminary colleague would say, “What’s up with that?”
Let’s unpack both premises. Could it be that being born again is more about recognizing our total dependence on the Lord for support and sustenance? The kind of unwavering dependence found in a baby or child?
A child doesn’t hold grudges until taught to do so. A child knows that survival is located in the parent figure, unless taught otherwise. A child can sometimes be less competitive than an adult, in the sense of being willing to help another rather than push to win at all costs. A child loves (especially the parent figure) without wavering and is usually willing to follow instructions from the parent with more trust than an adult would.
(Mind you, that’s not every child, but most).
I believe that there are some aspects of our Faith which we have to take in FAITH. That sometimes the Lord would have us trust God’s process first, them see where it takes us. That God would prefer that we are our sisters’ and brothers’ keepers; operating in loving forgiveness and unity rather than holding grudges and being prideful or overly competitive. That rather than worry about who sits where in heaven, aim to get to heaven.
But then, the are days when I’m not so childlike, when I get all competitive. Or fail to trust God in the snurricanes of life. When my heart fails to heed that quiet whisper ‘Peace. Be still’. And then it’s as if I need to be born anew in my Savior’s love. When I need to learn to trust God and God’s processes once again.
How about you, do you need to heed God’s whisper …
“Peace. Be still. Hush. Allow God to be God. Let go; take a faith free-fall. Become childlike once again”
Will you do it?
Can you? Let go of everything and allow God to be God? Just this once.
I’m praying for us.
In Christ
