Hey friends!
Tonight I get to babysit my three favorite little buddies in the world: Grant, Ethan, and Luke. Hanging out with them reminds me of the beauty in small things that are so often overlooked in the chaotic big-person world: the joy of getting to munch on a bowl of hot popcorn with candy corn; awe at the feats performed by The Incredibles; and – my favorite – the excitement on their precious little faces when they see me walking up the porch steps. It melts my heart and makes me feel like they enjoy spending time with me as much as I do with them.
It’s amazing what we can learn from children! One of my close friends and roommate from last year shared a story with me last night over our Hibachi Factory dinner. Amy spent a week in Haiti this summer, and when I asked what the biggest God-Moment she’s experienced was, she said that it had been from watching the way the kids treated her. Every time they saw Amy, they would come running up to her, their skinny little arms outstretched and wearing ear-to-ear grins. Amy said, “Watching the way they wanted to spend time with me and literally hang all over me made me realize that God wants us to treat Him in the exact same way.”
Wow. When I think of what Amy said and the way Grant, Ethan, and Luke came running up to me tonight, I wonder when the last time was that I have been completely captivated and overwhelmed with love for Jesus. When was the last time I simply wanted to be in His presence, not because I had to or felt obligated to, but simply because I wanted to?
I fear that oftentimes I perform “love acts” for Christ that stem from a selfish desire to consequently receive His blessings. But the 3rd graders in Haiti didn’t cling to Amy and Luke didn’t jump into my arms tonight because they knew we would give them a piece of candy as a result! If that were the case, I would feel so used, so unloved for being simply myself. Few things are as hurtful as people professing love to us when they have alterior motives, when they are only out to prosper themselves. What makes us think it is any different for our Savior? My prayer tonight is that I would be enchanted by Christ. That I would see spending time with Him as a delight, something I crave and watch the clock for because I can’t wait until it’s time to do it again.
Are you treating the Lord like a candy machine? Dutifully putting in your quarters of Sunday attendance in Church, monotonous quiet times, and putting a check in the offering plate only because you want something in return? Don’t cheat Him like that. Just like my heart warmed at the utter love and abandon radiating from the little boys’ faces tonight, the heart of Christ melts too each time we choose Him…just because we want to.
And don’t cheat yourself either. The joy of giving in to Christ and allowing yourself to be completely captivated by Him far exceeds the monotonous drudgery of “loving” Him because you have to. You can tell the difference between the two. And believe me, so can He.
It won’t always go the way you thought it would. The special, intimate moments you have planned out for your alone time with Jesus rarely – if ever – turn out as planned. Tonight, I thought I would enjoy an extended quiet time of digging into the Word and journaling after I got the boys in bed. But instead, Luke decided he wasn’t sleepy and now he’s cuddling beside me on the couch. But when our plans fall through and we don’t experience God the way we thought we would, it’s because He wants us to see another facet of His heart instead. He always shows up; sometimes, the form He takes just looks a little differently than we thought it would. Apparently, tonight He wanted to catch a glimpse of the heart the Father has for me by feeling the closest I may ever get to experiencing that with Luke. He never sees me as an inconvenience, a bother; instead, He treasures time with me and cherishes each and every time I run towards Him with open arms.
Then I said to you, "Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place."
~ Deuteronomy 1:29-31
Friends, I encourage you to run to Jesus this week because you want to. Fall in love with Him simply because He is who He is…not because of what He gives you. Love Him for the right reasons. And lastly, don’t dictate how He is going to show up and work in your life. He knows what’s best for you, He knows what you need much more than you do, and so let Him surprise you. I’m so thankful He surprised me tonight by showing up the way He did. I wouldn’t trade the lessons I’ve learned for anything.
Until next Wednesday!
Amber Noel
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