God Bending Down

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20 ESV). I get an opportunity to be around children a lot. Some would say it keeps me young, others say it only ages me more. I have found it to be some of both at times, and always a learning lesson in the making! One of the classic stories comes from a little girl on our soccer team. She and her preschool brother were walking up to the practice field and the little boy was toddling beside her trying to jump up to something she was holding high above her head and well out of his reach. When she came on to the field, I asked her what he was doing. She responded, “Oh, he wanted to have some of my candy.” I asked her what she was doing and she replied, “He can’t jump very high, so I always hold it up higher than he can jump until he gives up.” From simple tasks like holding a spoon or taking a step to more advanced accomplishments like speaking, reading, or playing a musical instrument, human beings learn as they grow. Everything has to be learned. Spiritual growth, too, must be nurtured and learned over a lifetime. We simply aren’t born knowing how to be followers of Christ. Shaping a child to be generous and loving requires effort and patience. These things have to be learned. Most of us are still at it. Attaining the “measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (cf. Ephesians 4:13) is a journey; and, like growing from infancy to adulthood, discipleship doesn’t have shortcuts. It takes time, we all need help, and there will be mistakes. There is no age requirement to being reborn. It’s amazing and mysterious. No wonder Nicodemus was puzzled when Jesus told him to be born again, not through his mother’s womb but by water and the Spirit (cf. John 3:1-8). Thank goodness God loves us and works through us whether we’re rookies or seasoned disciples. He does not hold up the treat higher, keeping it just out of our reach. He bends down to make sure it is easily within our capacity to attain it. That’s our example of discipleship with our children and others. It really isn’t as difficult as it might seem. After all, we only need teach what we have already learned. God does not expect us to teach what we don’t yet know. He does expect us to share with others the lessons we have already experienced. Some of those may not yet be finished lessons. They still may be great learning tools. Make it your priority to bend down like Jesus and give to others what he has given you.