Matthew 7:3-5 “And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” <NASB>
The Lord is continuing to teach me about perspective. (See my post “Perspective” February 20,2017) Look at the picture above.
Here in Oklahoma, we have starlings. They fly in what I call “bird clouds”. Others may say it’s just a flock of birds, but if you watch them, they fly in cloud formations to get from here to there. It’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!
Next to the bird cloud is a pair of water mittens. That’s what my granddaughter Madison called them when she was about three years old! Others may say they’re just rubber gloves.
Children and young people have a lot of insight from the Lord and want to share it. Some may say they say it funny, or what do they know, they haven’t lived yet, they’re just a kid.
How can we see clearly if we have that big old log in our eye? The log called, “It’s not the way I see it.”
We have given our children liberty to speak about what they are seeing and hearing since they were small. They need that expression, and honestly, since little ones and young ones “haven’t lived yet”, they can see more clearly because they don’t have so much crud to filter through.
Let me tell you about someone that is “just a kid”. Her name is Maryam Behnam. She is 13 now, but I first heard of her when she was 11. She is an Iraqi Christian. Her family had to leave their home when ISIS gained control of Mosul in 2014. She was interviewed by SAT-7 TV reporter Essam Nagy in March 2015. Please look it up and watch it. (Maryam Benham “Unafraid of ISIS, Iraqi girl’s faith beyond viral”) These are some of the things Maryam said:
“Jesus is my Father and He is my Creator and I have no one better than Him. When ISIS drove us out of our home, His hand was on us. He saved us.”
“The only story of the Bible is the resurrection of Jesus Christ the Lord, that we can have hope.”
“When I pray, I pray that God might help us to go back home, and that the peace of God might come all over Iraq. And also, may God forgive ISIS.”
“I’m thankful for everything that has been done for us. The words I am speaking to you are not coming from a random place. They come from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives me these words to tell you. And it is the real need of the Spirit for the people.”
“In the Bible, Jesus said to us, ‘Don’t be afraid, I am with you.’ And also, He said, ‘Forgive others no matter who is hating you.’ You have to forgive them.”
Matthew 11:25-26 At that time Jesus answered and said, “I praise Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou didst hide these things from the wise and intelligent and didst reveal them to babes. Yes, Father, for thus it was well pleasing in Thy sight.” <NASB>
Matthew 21:15-16 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the son of David,” they became indignant, and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABES THOU HAST PREPARED PRAISE FOR THYSELF?” <NASB>
When Madison was still in diapers, we were out on the sun porch playing. She moved the cooler and got the pink ice cream scoop, stood behind the cooler and began to preach! She said, “Hallelujah, praise the Lord.” Then only she and the Lord knew what she was saying. It is one of those snapshot moments in my heart.
Jeremiah 1:6-8 Then I said, “Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, because I am a youth.” But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
Abba, help us to pull the log called “It’s not the way I see it” out and help us to see the heart behind the message being given. Help us to encourage our young people to share what they are hearing from You, and to let them know that they are an important part of the Body. Help us to see as You do. We love You and we praise You. Amen.