November 30, 2012
Kid’s Games and Christian Living
Is there A Connection
Part Two
“Man is a gaming animal. He must always be trying to get the better in something or other.”
- Charles Lamb
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:1-4
Yesterday found us looking at the prospect of what Children’s games might have to say to us with respect to spiritual living. Today let’s look at a few specific games and see if we can connect any dots.
Let’s look at the game of Duck, Duck Goose: the premise is simple, you sit in a circle and the person who is ‘it’ goes around tapping each person, saying duck, duck duck – until he chooses someone and yells goose. The ‘goose’ person then is to get up and chase the ‘it’ person with enthusiasm and expectancy of catching up to and tagging that individual. How like us sitting in our circle of humanity, awash in our day to day affairs as life is passing us by and then the Holy Spirit taps us on the head and draws us into the game and we have the glorious opportunity to become not just mere observers but active participants in the events that are going on. Do we jump up and follow after the Holy Sprit enthusiastically or do we grumble, whine, complain and stumble along wondering why we had to be chosen. If we could be as enthusiastic and energized as most the ‘goose’ people I have seen play this game when it comes to doing something for God – I wonder how much more we might get done.
Hot Potato is one of those games that we seem to have taken hold of in many Christian circles. The idea behind this game is that an object usually a ball is tossed around and whoever gets stuck with it is burned. We tend to treat ministry opportunities, needs in the church, and acts of service for God as a hot potato, tossing them quickly on to another person, hoping we won’t be the one that gets caught holding the ball when the time comes for the deed to be done. Maybe this game could inspire us to want to hold onto the hot potato, so to speak, hoping we are the one who gets it last, rather than over anxiously tossing it away. (This is a bit of a reverse application, but at least you can see how my mind works)
It would seem that children’s games and child like qualities can both teach us a lot and enhance our walk with the Lord. Sometimes we just have to be willing to dust off our thinking caps and apply a little imagination in order to see the potential truths that God can reveal to us.
Today’s Prayer
Father, keep my heart open, my mind inquisitive and my spirit willing to allow you to show me ways to serve you better, even if it is in things that might be childish or child like in nature.
“There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit, who brings a fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home.
Frustrated brother see how he’s tired to
light his own candle some other way.
See now your sister she’s been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame.
So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn.
Hold out your candle for all to see it,
Take your candle, go light your world.“
- Lyrics from ‘Go Light Your World’ by Chris Rice
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