My nephew is finally getting old enough to talk to about Christ. He is 3 years old now. This Christmas he and I talked about Jesus birthday. Normally, he is shy until he gets comfortable with you. But, this time, Antonio didn't want to talk to anyone. I tried several times to get him to just look at me.
When I mentioned it was Jesus' birthday we had quite a converstation. Here is how it went:
A: Where is Jesus?
Me: In heaven.
A: I want to go there.
Me: Not until you are old.
A: This old (stuggling to put up 4 fingers)
Me: Well, not til you are really old.
A: I want to talk to him.
Me: (very excited to share on prayer with a 3 year old!) Well, you can talk to him anytime, you can pray like you do with mommy before bed. (I took him outside and we looked up to the sky and I told him to say whatever he wanted to Jesus.)
A: Ok, Jesus come down here I want to talk to you! (silence) Why isn't he talking to me?
Me: Uh…. (I was stuck…I need to spend time in children's ministry to find out what they say to that!)
Sometimes I feel like Jesus isn't talking to me either. I stress the word “feel.” I can plead with him, cry and ask over and over. And I “feel” like I am getting the same response as Antonio. Nothing. We ask for things in prayer and don't get an immediate answer. Or maybe we aren't looking for immediate answer but we have been asking for quite awhile and are still waiting.
But, that is why we are directed to the Word. God is always talking! God is always answering prayer. We know that is truth because His Word says it is true. His ways are not our ways, we define slowness differently than He does.
I remember a few weeks ago as I was asking the Lord for a new revelation of who he was according to Ephesians 1:17
…the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe…
I was hearing the Lord in His Word, I just wanted more. I wanted to see His power. I hadn't had a “wow” moment in my quiet time in awhile. I thought maybe there is some sin I have not confessed. Maybe I needed to try harder to be generous of my time with people in serving them. Maybe I need to spend more time in prayer and in the Word. Then maybe He would show me His power. Then the Lord gently spoke to my spirit and said, “Jill I give you revelations of myself not because you are holy, but because I am.”
There will come a day when Antonio will have a revelation of who God is and hear His voice. It won't be because Antonio is holy but because God is holy. He sent His only son to live here on earth because He is holy. We love Him because He first loved us. (I John 4:19) There is nothing we could give Him to thank Him for His amazing love or generosity.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
It's His birthday and we get the gift.
Photo courtesy of Steve Evans via Flicker.
