A child at the back of the church reminded those who were paying attention what God’s promise is to His children.
The enlightenment occurred about 25 years ago. I’ll never forget it.
The new pastor was a challenge for the parishioners. His ways were different, and he liked to make changes to the song line-up on a whim. That usually created frustration and confusion. On this Sunday, his methods created the chance for a spontaneous lesson about God’s promise.
He commented about wanting to change the song choice, and said, “Let’s use one of the oldies that we all know and love.” Before he had the chance to state the name of the song, a young voice from the back pews began to sing out, “I love you, you love me….” Parents in the church smiled, recognizing the song made popular on the children’s television show, Barney and Friends. Barney is a dinosaur. His message is divine.
God loves us; He wants us to love others; He wants us to love and glorify Him. Better said, He promises that he loves us. Always has, always will. But do we promise to love and glorify him? We may strive to, hope to, work to and pray to, but we cannot in all reality promise to. We are too flawed to promise to love and glorify God with every waking breath we take.
“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
We are given the capacity and model for love thanks to God. He loved us – always has, always will – so we can love.
“Know, then, that the LORD, your God, is God: the faithful God who keeps covenant mercy to the thousandth generation toward those who love him and keep his commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:9
Barney’s words even clarify the commandments we are to consider most important, according to Jesus.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
There it is. God loves us and wants us to love each other. His words tell us about love for Him and love for one another, and they are intertwined. With every breath of our existence He is telling us that He loves us, if we but pay attention to the Holy Spirit. Barney’s song also poses the ultimate question, “Won’t you say you love me, too?” God asks that of us every day, too.
Amidst the vibrant piano, adult voices and rich organ tones, the essence of our faith and God’s promise was made clear that Sunday in a child’s innocence and children’s song. “I love you, you love me.” Amen.
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.” Matthew 18: 3-5