Daily Devotional for April 15, 2021

Last Sunday, I was off for vacation.  It was also the first Sunday we opened Children’s Sunday school and the choir was back in the sanctuary.

Four-year-old Stevie sat in the balcony during the second service.  When she saw the choir wearing their beautiful blue robes, she had an unexpected reaction.

This is what Melissa posted on Facebook: “We finally got our Choir back at church.  It was fairly obvious to anyone sitting near us that we haven’t been to church enough over the last year when Stevie whisper yells, “LOOK AT ALL THOSE GODS!”  Apparently, anyone in a robe is our Heavenly Father.”

Then Melissa wrote: “Tom Robbins, you may have to help us out on this one.”

I replied, “I’m on it.”

First thing I’m going to do is sit Stevie down and explain I know the members of our choir and they aren’t pure enough to be gods.  In fact, now that I think about it, they are a pretty rough crowd.  Then we will have a conversation in four-year-old language about who God is.

Sadly, I think many grownups need to have God explained in four-year-old language.  That’s because we’ve been fed lies all our lives about who God really is.

For some misguided souls, their god is materialism, patriotism, climbing the corporate ladder, family, sports, hobbies, fame, political power, appearance, the list goes on and on….

None of those things can truly make us happy, make us complete or give us peace.

So, to Stevie, I will say, “God is the One who loves you more than anyone else, even your parents.  God is the one who made everything.  God is the One who saw that we needed someone to make sure we could live with God forever.  God is the One who sent his Son, Jesus.  And even though you can’t see God, he’s right here with you.  God will help you with all your problems.  God will listen to your prayers.  And God wants you to remember to trust him and know, whenever bad things happen, God loves you so much, God will turn the bad things into good.  And most importantly, God wants you to always make him first, that way you are always doing the right thing.”

That’s four-year-old talk.  I know because I am fluent.

But the other way to truly tell someone about God is to use scripture.  That’s why all our worship services end with the exact same benediction.  It reminds us who God is.

This is what Isaiah meant by saying,
“The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40 28b-31)

Stevie will understand.  I hope those of us in grownup land will too.

Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, give me the clarity of a four-year-old so I may grow closer to you.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins