I have made a conscious effort to keep the stories about my grandchildren to a minimum, but something has started happening lately that has changed everything. My twin, two-year old granddaughters have started talking. Well, maybe a better description would be, saying words. It steals my heart every time I hear Papa and of course the answer is always “yes.”
I couldn’t help but notice that they don’t always use the right word in the right context, even though they are geniuses, of course. Here’s what I mean. They have both learned the words, “Thank you”. Their mom has been very diligent in teaching them. But here’s the deal. They say, “Thank you” when I give them something, but they also say, ”Thank you” when they give me something. Something’s off there.
But I think I’ve figured it out. They don’t really know what they are saying, but rather they are watching my reaction. They love the great big smile they get from me by saying it.
Are we like that with God sometimes? Do we try to get a reaction from God by saying the right words or even doing the right thing, when all the while, it doesn’t reflect a changed heart. He doesn’t need us to perform for Him. His plan for each of us isn’t about saying or doing something different. It is about being someone different. Jesus didn’t die to make bad people good. He died to make dead people alive.
The New Beginnings Addiction Recovery Program at our two shelters teaches this daily to our participants. Many of them admit to coming in and trying to say all the right things, but until Jesus changed their hearts, it was just a show. One man I talked to said, “I thought I was coming in here to get sober. I got so much more.” The danger with trying to perform for God is that He is not impressed with our strengths; He is impressed with our weakness. In the words of Paul, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” He knew that God’s strength was perfected in his weakness. He had to quit performing and start submitting.
I’m not gonna quit applauding and smiling any time soon when my granddaughters perform for me. But I hope I’m mature enough and humble enough to come to God with a changed heart and open hands. That’s what makes Him smile.
