My three year old son said once “I wish I knew what Jesus looked like mom.” I replied with “me too buddy, one day we will get to meet him and we will see his face.” But I got thinking back on that and something occurred to me; look around. God is the beautiful flowers growing up from the ground. He is the strong and mighty tree growing in the front yard. He is the breeze that brings warmth and joy. He is the beautiful scent that comes from the flower. The sun that shines brightly through the clouds. He is the smile on a wrinkled face. The laugh that is bellowed out of a child’s mouth. The sparkle in an eye. That is what God looks like. He is everywhere around us, in every beautiful thing. That is him. Giving us glimpses of his glory every day.
The point of saying all that is to show us what God gives to us every day. He gives us gifts of life, love, laughter, he gives us so much. So my question is this, why shouldn’t we give him our all? All of our love, time, praise, worship? As children, in our innocence we say things that we wouldn’t have the guts to say as an adult. Or we dance silly dances with people all around us, but that would never happen as an adult. Or we sing, bellow out our favorite song for the world to hear, but as we get older we can’t lift up an amen for the one who is our all? Our innocence tends to slowly disappear as we grow older. Fear of what people will think of us creeps in. Doubt in ourselves works it’s way into our lives. Insecurity. But the Bible tells us in Matthew 18:3, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Become as little children. That means to put away the fear, doubt, insecurity and lift up a praise that is true and innocent, as a child is innocent. Have you ever seen a new believer that just dances all around, sings loudly, runs, and jumps all over the place and as you watch them you giggle at what they look like? Or you go home and talk about how silly or crazy they looked or how bad they sang? Let me tell you, they were giving up their childlike praise unto the God that just changed their life. That is what it looks like. The Bible says that David danced with all his might. Do you think that meant he swayed side to side and gave up a little clap? No. I imagine him making a “scene” of his praise and dancing. Playing instruments loudly, maybe that he had never played before, just banging and shouting praises…probably not the most beautiful sound ever heard, but that’s true and honest praise unto God.
If the trees sway from side to side for the Lord. If the flowers give their sweetest smell to the Lord. If the sun shines brightly for the Lord. Then I ask, why shouldn’t we do the same, give our best for the Lord? Dance before the Lord. Sing praises unto the Lord. Clap loudly for the Lord. Lift up hallelujahs unto the Lord. How much more should we give to God? The Bible says everything that has breath! That’s you. That’s me. Let us put aside everything that would stop us from giving God the praise and worship that he deserves and dance like David danced. Let’s give a shout as a child would. Let’s see the beautiful gifts God gives to us everyday and then give him our gifts of praise in return. Grab your children, brother, sister, momma, daddy by the hand and dance, sing, and clap with innocence. We could learn a little something from our children. Let’s see the world through their eyes, innocent eyes.
