Thought for Thursday, November 29th

November 29, 2012

Kid’s Games and Christian Living

Is there A Connection

Part One

“It should be noted that the games of children are not games, and must be considered as their most serious actions.”

-       Michel De Montaigne

And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.  But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.  And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

Mark 10:13-16

The games children play have changed significantly with the advancements in technologies and the greater ease of access that the youth of today have to electronic devices: yet there are some traditional games from childhood that have survived, even Wii, Playstation, Xbox and Gamegear, to only mention a few.  Games such as Tag, Hide and Seek, Flashlight Tag, Duck, Duck Goose and Hot Potato are among them.

My pontification of the day: considering that we are to embrace the kingdom of God as little children:  has brought me to wonder if there might be some spiritual implication that could be drawn from these kid’s games that might have some saliency for adult Christians in today’s world.  And I have come to the conclusion that there are some applicable concepts specific to these games that could be beneficial to us as we live for God from day to day. 

While I would never be so flippant as to think that living for God is so simple that it could be considered child’s play: I do think that children can teach us a great deal about how to simplify some of the things we adults tend to overcomplicate.

Over the next couple of days, we will look at a few children’s games and see what they might teach us about our lives as Christians.

But this simple truth needs to stay with us in all we do in living for the Lord: the more innocent we can be:  the more pure in motive and expectancy we can become: the greater childlike our faith can be – the better and greater will be our degree of success in living for Him.

Today’s Prayer

Father, help me to grow and mature spiritually without loosing the childlike components that will enable me to be more pleasing to you.

“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