"God is the life for us."
Sometimes kids will really surprise you. Parents know what I'm talking about.
Recently my granddaughter, Bella, was in church with Brit and wrote something on her own, with no help. To see this whole story, see Brit's blog, " The Big God Story", at taminglions.org. This gives us a blow by blow description of that morning.
Carol got hold of what she wrote and put it on a blue background, with a “translation," and Bella's picture. The "translation" was necessary because while Bella's handwriting is coming along nicely, she is in kindergarten, and it is a work in progress. Here is the translation of what we thought she was saying:
"God is there for us.
He loves us.
He keeps promises.
God [was] sad on the cross.
We love him.”
Profound thoughts from anyone, let alone a six year old. However, Bella told us a word needed changing. This is what she really said:
"God is the life for us.
He loves us.
He keeps promises.
God [was] sad on the cross.
We love him.”
This changes everything. It does not negate the first translation, however. That is one of Christ’s greatest promises, “Lo, I am with you, even to the end of the age,” Matthew 28:20 (NASB). We can rest in this promise. While it does not rescue us from problems, we have the Lord of the universe with us all the time, loving, directing, continuing to point us forward.
What Bella actually said has to do with the life we now live in Christ. Right before Christ left the earth he assured his disciples that it was necessary for him to go back to Heaven so the Holy Spirit could come and dwell in all of us at the same time, empowering us for service in his kingdom and for living lives of righteousness.
John captured the thought in his gospel, chapter 1, verse 4, “…in him was life and the life was the light of all people.”
I John 5:12 also spells it out in clear words. “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
It seems that Bella captured some important things here. First, the idea that God is there for us. Next, he is the life that lives in us, and loves us. He also keeps his promises. His love was shown in an inexpressible manner on the cross, and we cannot help but love him.
One final thought. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Luke 16:16
Good words, sweetheart.
Thanks be to God.
