written by: Jackie Brindle
I have to tell you this story about my six year old son, Luke. We were sitting at the kitchen table, when he boldly asked me this one straightforward question. I’m going to be honest, it completely caught me off guard!
When he asked me this question, I had just handed him his bowl of yogurt and granola, with an extra scoop of peanut butter in it. My coffee was waiting for me to take its first sip! Then, without hesitation he sweetly asked,
“Why do you love God so much?”
If I wasn’t awake at that point, I sure became awake then! My brain was hardly functioning at that moment without even a drop of coffee yet. How was I going to answer such a big-- heart felt --question? Would my answer be sufficient? Would I say the “right” thing---the “wrong” thing”? My eyes grew wider the more I thought about it.
He patiently waited for my answer, as he took another bite of yogurt.
My mind raced with all the things of why I love God so much.
The only answer that came to mind was this,
“Because God loved me first.”
I wanted to explain more, I wanted to tell him why that was so important...why that meant so much to me! But I didn’t have to.
He interrupted before I could get out another sentence to explain myself! And in the sweetest six year old voice, he looked at me and said, “Well, that’s a very good reason, mom!”
He took another bite. I breathed in and took my first sip of coffee.
The day moved on but my mind could not get this question out of my head, or my answer.
My son showed me it’s okay to ask bold questions. He was bold enough to challenge me to dig under the surface a bit, to find why I love God.
I don’t ever get this world right. I am humbled in every relationship and action I make. I would love to say that I am a perfect person, but that’s not the truth. The truth is, God loved me first.
Not the world, not my own parents, or myself. It was God. It was His idea to form me in my mother’s womb, to mold me, transform me, to pursue me, even when I didn't measure up.
I have been given the gift of grace and His presence in my life. To me, that means I get to walk through the most undeserving and messy moments of my life with Jesus, who never leaves my side. Even in the middle of the storm or even when I've experienced the greatest joys! His mighty love goes beyond the limitations I set ---- we set.
Luke approached me with a tough question. This sweet conversation reminded me that I can boldly come to the throne of God---- without hesitation, much like how my son approached me. And so, with a childlike faith, I encourage you to explore that question for yourself.
“Why do you love God?”
And when the time comes to speak boldly don't hesitate to share it with others! You see, it doesn’t have to be dressed up, wrapped up perfectly, or spoken so eloquently. You can think about my Luke. What would you say to a six year old?
Be bold in your faith, speak boldly of His grace, and talk to God boldly about everything! Here's the thing, the more we share about God’s incredible grace and love in our own lives, the more fragrant He becomes in the world around us!
I am convinced that as you speak boldly to your family, friends, or to your children, about what God has done in your life, it will be like a beacon of hope and an anchor for your soul, in this NEW YEAR!
All because, God loved you first!
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Bible Verses to Ponder:
1 John 4:19 - "We love because he loved us first."
1 James 1: 2-4, 1 Joshua 1:9-11, 2 Timothy 1 and 2
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Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving me even on my good and not so good days. I pray that you would help me to show the love that you first showed me, to others in my life. May my actions of what I say and do be done in love and to honor You. I pray that this year be filled with opportunities to share what you've done for me. Help me to speak boldly of why I love you God, so that others will know how incredibly loved they are by You, too!
In Jesus name,
Amen
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