Double~take | great big God
Becoming more childlike
T
his week my campers got into a discussion about the bible sessions we have at Salvation Army camps, and a few of them mentioned that they liked to dance around a lot, and sing like they have at previous camps. They very enthusiastically and unanimously declared their favourite bible song to be “Great Big God”, and launched into the chorus, complete with actions, before volunteering to lead the rest of the campers in singing it the following afternoon. I would’ve recommended them too, but Thursdays are the days that we re-enact the Stations of the Cross, and we don’t have any singing.
It’s a pity that the worship team doesn’t know that song anyway, because we can never have too many reminders that Our God is a Great Big God. Time after time I have seen reminders in seemingly unrelated passages.
From 1 Chronicles 17
David is stressing because God lives in a tent while he has a palace, so he decides to build a temple. God’s response? Calm down! When have I ever asked for a temple??!! Now listen: I chose you back when you were a shepherd, and I am the one responsible for all your successes. You will not build a house for me; rather, I will build a house for you.
I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you… 1 Chronicles 17:10b
From Isaiah 41:13,14: God is reassuring his very small child… I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,
“Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Galatians 3
God completes our salvation. He thought of it, he started it, and he is the only one who can finish it…
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? … After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
Strange how maturing in your faith requires you to become more and more like a child. It gets confusing when navigating the nuances that separate ‘immature’ and ‘childlike’, whilst always growing older - yet another way God likes to turn things upside down.
Double~take appears every Saturday on theRubicon. Find past Double~take posts and a bio of Stephanie Hung here.
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Having a God that is bigger than we make Him was the starting point of my last sermon at the corps I have been leading. We need to remember that our God is the creator of the universe who is waiting to do things just as remarkable in our own lives!
On the last point, I’ve learnt that there is a big difference between a deep and simple faith, and one that is shallow, or one that is complicated!