interesting god

I was stunned

When we think of God, we often think of His attributes of omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence; it is also easy to describe Him as our savior, comforter, healer, protector, and helper. I could easily picture myself sitting on my Father’s lap, enjoying the comfort of His arms, but it never occurred to me that my God was also an incredibly fun companion to play with and have fun with!

On the last Sunday of 2019, at the end of the sermon, the church pastor asked each member of the congregation to randomly draw a card from the bag. Each card had an inspiring word, such as "Grace" and "God's Favor." (Grace) and so on. At the end of 2017, I always felt that I would need God’s special grace in the coming year, but the one I drew turned out to be “strength”. Facts have proved that in 2018, I really needed the strength from God to face the various challenges that followed.

This time, before it was my turn to draw the card, I quickly said a prayer, asking God to use the words on this card to inspire me. What I was thinking about at that time was "wisdom" or "ability", etc., so that I could face the severe challenges and choices in 2020. Unexpectedly, a completely unexpected word came up: "playfulness".

At the moment, I was stunned and had no idea how to understand this word. It seems that joy and play are quite far away from my Christian life! I can plan my life to include prayer, Bible reading, meetings, fellowship, hymns, or more lively outdoor walks and mountain hiking. But "fun and frolic"? What exactly is going on? How should Christians view play? What to play? How to play with fun, joy, excitement and enjoyment? So what kind of lifestyle is it?

unexpected

So I spent a few days studying the Bible carefully, looking for various reference articles, trying to understand how Christians should view playfulness. I was pleasantly surprised and profoundly discovered that our God is not only full of love, but also often uses unexpected ways to bless us.

Isn’t the birth of the Lord Jesus the most unimaginable surprise? The Gospels record the first miracle He performed - turning water into wine at a wedding banquet. What joy it brought! I imagine that when the Lord Jesus was a guest at the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he must have been a very interesting and pleasant guest. Did they talk about many interesting topics together? I imagined they played board games and had a great party. I also thought that in the parable of the prodigal son, the last scene is a lively banquet. In addition to the rich banquet, if it were today, karaoke and even singing and dancing would be indispensable! Our Lord actually knows how to have fun and play!

In the Old Testament, God made a donkey speak to warn the prophet Balaam. This is like something out of a cartoon! It was clearly a serious warning, but God expressed it in such a creative and fun way! The Lord Jesus, who stayed on the shore, "saw" the disciples struggling to paddle against the wind in the lake. He actually walked onto the water and headed towards them, frightening the disciples! In my mind, Jesus was encouraging his disciples in a humorous and naughty way! The Bible more directly mentions that God created the universe out of His "love," "enjoyment," and "pleasure" (see Proverbs 8:22-31), rather than out of necessity to "work."

Celebrate in challenges

The majestic Father God can be so "interesting", and it is mostly shown in dangerous and solemn scenes. This "joyful and playful" aspect does not mean that God is ignoring the seriousness of the moment, but it is meant to reassure us. "Happiness and playfulness" in life does not mean that we neglect our responsibilities, but rather it means the freedom of complete trust.

God promised to Jerusalem through the prophet: “The streets will be full of boys and girls playing.” (Refer to Zechariah 8:5, Contemporary Bible Translation) How much God the Father hopes that His children will be happy and free from worries. , have a great time!

Therefore, I set new expectations for 2020 in front of Father God: I want my 2020 to be a year of playfulness. 2020 has been a year of severe challenges for me personally and for all the ministries I participate in or lead. At this moment, I and many dear members around me are in a situation that is almost beyond our capabilities. Even so, I still want to ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to do everything I do with joy and enjoyment, and to joyfully enjoy every moment I spend with my Heavenly Father, so that every difficulty and every burden becomes a time of thanksgiving and celebration. time.

Repent, rest, quiet, trust

In the past two years, we have received the call to do justice, and we have tried our best to discuss and encourage everyone to practice it, speak out loudly in the land where they live, and actively participate in the pursuit of justice and fairness that God the Father attaches great importance to. This subject is serious and important, and it is not easy to see the results of your efforts. Even in the process of striving for justice, we often feel powerless or even disappointed and discouraged.

The encouraging thing is that because our God is a God of justice, He waits and is ready to show mercy to us (see Isaiah 30:18). He promises: When all the people give up their pride and self-reliance, become humble and repent, and rest, they will be saved; when they give up their hard struggle and choose to wait quietly on Him, they will gain strength. What He wants is for us to come to Him, humbly ask for mercy, trust Him with all our hearts, and enjoy a wonderful relationship with God.

Therefore, "Kingdom Resources for Christ" received the annual theme from God: "Repent, Rest, Quietness, and Trust," which comes from Isaiah 30:15: "Return and rest, and you will be saved; Strength comes from being quiet and trusting.” (Contemporary Translation of the Bible)

To repent and rest is to recognize one’s own limitations; to be quiet and trust is to acknowledge God’s infinity. The "fun-filled" Heavenly Father wants us to settle down and not only wait quietly for the wonderful things He will accomplish, but also to "play with joy" with Him calmly.

I pray that in 2020, we can more deeply experience the new life brought about by repentance and rest, as well as the strength gained from quietness and trust, and that we can be as carefree as children, "playing happily" with the "interesting" God in daily life and service.

Lily Yang

Lily is the founder and CEO of Kingdom Resources for Christ. After spending many years as an executive in large companies, she now serves in full-time ministry, often speaking, teaching, and leading retreats throughout North America and Asia. She also founded and runs the natural and ethical skincare and cosmetics company, LordnLily.com.