Total Access

If you really want to get on the wrong side of me there is one statement that will do it.
It is one I never heard in my house growing up, thank goodness.
However, it is one I heard other places as I was growing up.
I never understood it since that was not the way I was raised.

Children should be seen and not heard.

I still cringe whenever I hear it.
Usually it was said by an adult who wanted total control.
Usually it was said by an adult who did not believe that children had anything worthwhile to say.
It was a statement that reeked of propriety but no warmth.

I was raised in a home where manners were expected.
I was raised in a home where I was not to interrupt when someone else was speaking.
I was raised in a home that valued my thoughts.
I was raised in a home where conversation was the way we stayed connected.

I knew someone back then who said that offensive statement all the time.
It was a way to keep children seen, all dressed up in their suits and dresses.
It was a way to keep those proper looking children silent.
Looking good on the outside but terribly hurt and misunderstood on the inside.

It was a statement that was used to keep the children in line.
It always made me feel as if the person saying it believed children were second class citizens.
It is the opposite of what Jesus said to his disciples.
Jesus wanted the children near Him.

Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. (Matthew 19:14)

It is that kind of Savior we worship.
It is that kind of Lord we serve.
It is that kind of Kingdom to which we belong.
It is that kind of Kingdom that seems upside down compared to the world.

I thought of this when I saw a recent picture.
The picture depicts the antithesis of the statement that makes me cringe.
The picture depicts what Jesus said to His disciples.
Let the little children come to Me.

50,000 young people gathered for the Passion Conference in Atlanta.
World renowned speakers and musicians were there.
Hillsong United, Chris Tomlin, and Francis Chan were scheduled to speak and sing.
Everyone was ready for a worship concert, singing praise to God.

Then it happened.
An unscheduled moment.
It happened to a well known electric guitarist.
It happened while he was onstage.

It was at this particular Passion youth conference that James Duke had brought his son.
This is his first trip with just him and me. We are figuring it out, James Duke said.
During the first song, James’ son walked onstage.
Stetson came and tapped my arm and said, “I don’t know where to sit!”

I didn’t really know what to say. I was a little busy. I never really thought he’d walk on stage while we were playing. Of course I didn’t tell him NOT to come on stage. So I just knelt down and patted at a spot right by my pedalboard and said, “Sit here, buddy”. And he sat down, totally fine and secure. Casual even. (James Duke)

There was not a hint of, children should be seen and not heard.
There was only total acceptance.
I’m his dad and he’s my son.
His place is right next to me.

Casual even.
Totally fine.
Secure.
Wanted.

It didn’t matter that James was playing in front of 50,000 people..
It didn’t matter that this is one of the biggest Christian student conferences in the country.
Stetson had no where to sit.
Next to his dad was the perfect place.

Stetson knew that his dad would never turn him away.
Stetson knew that he had total access to his father.
No one else in that large arena could come onstage and sit by James Duke’s feet.
Only his child could do that.

Only his child.
Let the little children come to Me.
Do not hinder them.
Sit here, buddy.

What happened at the worship concert is nothing new.
It may be odd to the world.
It is commonplace for a child of God.
Because of Jesus, God is our Father.

We have that kind of access.
We have that kind of closeness.
We are always accepted.
We always have a place to sit.

Our Father is never too busy.
Our Father is always available.
Our Father always has time for us.
Our Father always has a place for us right at His feet.

Why do we go through life thinking we are lost in the crowd of 50,000?
Why do we view ourselves as an insignificant face in the crowd?
As His child, we can approach God our Father with confidence and surety.
We know that when we come to our Father, He is fully present and longs to be with us.

If you do not believe that, look at the cross.
God sent Jesus, His Son, to earth and wrapped Him in human flesh.
Jesus died on the cross and rose again.
Jesus returned to His Father and our Father, to His God and our God. (John 20:17)

The pronoun changed from HIS to OUR.
We have total access to the Father through Jesus.
We have complete freedom to come to the Father whenever we need Him.
We can sit down, totally fine and secure; casual even.

That is good news!

 

 

2 responses to “Total Access”

1. It IS good news! Thank you, Gina, for reminding us that God is our Father and wants us to be in closeness with Him, which we can be through prayer, reading the Word, and sharing our faith with all around us.

   Reply

   • Sue,
     We can approach God as Father. We can cuddle up close and allow Him to hold us as we spend time with Him in stillness. He is always there. We have a seat right next to Him at any time. How blessed we are!
     Gina

     Reply