our missing joy
I really enjoy reading the Jesus Storybook Bible. It's a kids book technically - but basically it takes some of the really important bible stories (not that there are unimportant ones) and writes them for kids. That means it has imaginative language and fun sounding words. It also points kids to the message that each story is telling us - that God loves us, is seeking us, and that Jesus is his ultimate gift. It's very well written (and the artwork is super fun).
As I was reading a story this morning it got me thinking about kids and the way they think. It makes me extremely sad when I try to talk to the kids at church about Jesus. They don't get excited about him. They really don't seem to think about him much at all. What they really seem to get is that he is a lot of rules. He is constantly pointing out sin to them and making them behave. Most of the kids (at least my 5th grade boys) really don't seem all that interested.
Now, part of that is the fact that they don't share what they are actually thinking about. But I think that the more important thing is that they act what they see. They see their parents. They see their friends. The see the world around them. The world doesn't talk or think about Jesus very much. Their parents teach them rules and usually mention God when they are trying to get their kids to behave. They see their parents get stressed over worldly matters. They hear their parents comfort them with worldly things.
I remember as a child wondering why my parents would get so upset about certain things if there was a God. Why would they do this or that if God existed. Why would God not be a more important part of our lives? It just didn't make sense.
So of course, rather than think my parents might be missing something - I assumed for a long time that God didn't actually exist.
And I find myself falling into that same pattern of behavior sometimes even now. I find myself getting stressed over things that have little eternal consequence. I get caught up in worldly matters and forget the godly ones. How many things do I waste time on that have little or no real significance? Probably at least 85% of things. That's not to say God can't use them - he can make things work for his good.
When I do think of God - what do I often feel? Guilt. That is the feeling that many people associate with God. And that is so very wrong. Jesus came to FREE us of guilt and shame. He died for it! He took our burdens upon himself. We don't need to worry. We don't need to stress. We know that God is in control of all things and has a plan. We know that He is in charge - not us.
We should face each day with confidence and joy. We know that no matter what happens God is not surprised. We know that no matter what WE accomplish - God can accomplish all things. The world doesn't revolve around us. Lets stop wasting the day stressing and complaining. Instead, lets be thankful - and lets give name to our thanks. It's infectious. People will see our joy and we should tell them its source. Jesus!
As I was reading a story this morning it got me thinking about kids and the way they think. It makes me extremely sad when I try to talk to the kids at church about Jesus. They don't get excited about him. They really don't seem to think about him much at all. What they really seem to get is that he is a lot of rules. He is constantly pointing out sin to them and making them behave. Most of the kids (at least my 5th grade boys) really don't seem all that interested.
Now, part of that is the fact that they don't share what they are actually thinking about. But I think that the more important thing is that they act what they see. They see their parents. They see their friends. The see the world around them. The world doesn't talk or think about Jesus very much. Their parents teach them rules and usually mention God when they are trying to get their kids to behave. They see their parents get stressed over worldly matters. They hear their parents comfort them with worldly things.
I remember as a child wondering why my parents would get so upset about certain things if there was a God. Why would they do this or that if God existed. Why would God not be a more important part of our lives? It just didn't make sense.
So of course, rather than think my parents might be missing something - I assumed for a long time that God didn't actually exist.
And I find myself falling into that same pattern of behavior sometimes even now. I find myself getting stressed over things that have little eternal consequence. I get caught up in worldly matters and forget the godly ones. How many things do I waste time on that have little or no real significance? Probably at least 85% of things. That's not to say God can't use them - he can make things work for his good.
When I do think of God - what do I often feel? Guilt. That is the feeling that many people associate with God. And that is so very wrong. Jesus came to FREE us of guilt and shame. He died for it! He took our burdens upon himself. We don't need to worry. We don't need to stress. We know that God is in control of all things and has a plan. We know that He is in charge - not us.
We should face each day with confidence and joy. We know that no matter what happens God is not surprised. We know that no matter what WE accomplish - God can accomplish all things. The world doesn't revolve around us. Lets stop wasting the day stressing and complaining. Instead, lets be thankful - and lets give name to our thanks. It's infectious. People will see our joy and we should tell them its source. Jesus!
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