“Teacher, take me!” From the moment Lindsay and I step off the bus onto the dirt of our carepoint at 8:30 to the moment we get back on around 3:30, we are swarmed by children wanting to be held. Arms outstretched and big brown eyes longing for affection- you simply can’t say “no.”
Never is there an inappropriate time for a child to demand, “Teacher, take me!” I am astonished with the children’s longing for my love and with the peace and joy that comes after I give it to them. I’m overwhelmed with the love I have for them. So many times I don’t know where to even begin praying for my sweet babes, so I just have to sit and let the Spirit intervene.
So how is this relevant in the kingdom of God? Firstly, I cannot imagine loving someone more than in each moment I am holding one of my sweet children. Most people can relate to loving someone this much, especially your children. Yet Luke talks about hating these very people.
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26 NIV)
This is not necessarily that one should hate their family but that one’s affection towards their family should look like hate compared to their love for God. Do I love the Lord more than these sweet angels? Do I love the Lord more than my earthly father and mother, who are phenomenal in every way? Scripture says the GREATEST commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind. (Matthew 22:37-38.)
Ministries and churches focus so much on loving others and preach on how much God loves us, but do we focus on the greater, no, GREATEST commandment to first love God? Upon realizing this, I wondered HOW to tangibly love God this way. Then I came across John 14:15 which says “If you love me you will keep my commands.” Then verse 21 says “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.” I really love how blunt that is! To grow an intense love for the Father, just start with keeping his commands. This includes loving your enemies, controlling your tongue, and all the other ones we’d rather ignore.
Lastly I put myself in the shoes of the children. They are desperate for me to hold them, to love them. And when I take them, we are unified. We have a spirit of peace, of joy, and of love. What would it look like for me to approach my Heavenly Father each moment with outstretched arms and a yearning for his affection? What would it look like for you?
So take me, Daddy, take me.
