As Lily has grown over the last couple years I have witnessed the precious wonder that she has with basically everything. Mesmerized by things like leaves on trees, and legs on a caterpillar, and the unfortunate times when she discovers my pimples... and my lack of "boobs" (she really enunciates that word)... Which she innocently tried to grab one day and then, upon not finding much there, asked me how my baby would get milk if I didn't have boobs like her mama? She was VERY concerned for me. (Needless to say, her lovely mama is well-endowed in that area.)
One vivid memory I have is when Lily's mom, Jenny, was explaining to me what happens when Lily wants to "explore" something harmful to her... Like an electrical socket... Or a hot stove...
Jenny said that instead of simply saying, "Lily NO!", she would walk over, scoop
Lily up, tell her "No", and then redirect her attention elsewhere. Jenny explained that if she just told Lily "no", but didn't redirect her, then Lily would be consumed with thoughts of that thing she wanted to touch... And within minutes she would be touching it again.
I realize now that I am not so different from Lily. There are things in my life that are harmful to me. Things that the Lord has essentially told me not to touch. And if I want to be obedient to the loving directions of my heavenly Father, then it would be best for me to redirect my attention elsewhere.
Becoming like Christ does not mean adhering to a list of what NOT to do. When Jesus walked the earth He didn't command people to follow Him, and then sit down and say? "Look disciples... I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't have premarital sex. I don't sag my pants. I don't cuss. I don't have tattoos. I am on time for meetings. And I don't flirt. Now go into all the world and teach others what I have taught you."
No way.
Jesus loved passionately. He healed powerfully. He served. He gave. He prayed. He forgave. He sacrificed Himself generously- for the good of all mankind. Sure there were plenty of things He abstained from, but the focus was on what He did, not on what He didn't do.
God knows our frame. He knows we are like the kiddos. He knows that if He said, "Jess, don't think about a pink elephant"... All I would think about is a pink elephant! So instead He instructs us to focus on the good works he has prepared for us to do.
Like in Ephesians 4:28 when He directs Paul to tell the thieves not to steal. Look at His approach-
"Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need."
Do you see it? With the "No" came a redirection of their focus-- Don't steal... Instead to good honest work and GIVE to others!
How else could this apply to our lives? What are some of the things that we are doing that WE KNOW are not God's best for us? How can we redirect our attention to instead bring him glory?
Don't lust.... Instead love.
Don't gossip... Instead speak life.
Don't compare... Instead call out the great things you see in others.
Don't envy someone's else's life... Instead look for ways to joyfully improve your own.
Don't complain... Instead be grateful.
Don't doubt... Instead worship.
Don't worry... Instead pray.
Don't be greedy... Instead give generously.
You get the idea. The love of our Lord is compassionate. He understands us. He knows we need vision to keep us focused. He is a good parent. We can trust Him.
Ps. Sometimes Lily cries when her mama won't give her what she wants... Because Lily doesn't know what her mom knows. Lily's mom knows that if she grabs a hot curling iron she will get burned, all Lily knows in that moment is that she can't have what she thinks she wants. We do that too. God tells us not to do something, or He keeps us from receiving something we think we want, and we cry... sometimes just a little... and sometimes we have a full-blown temper tantrum. And thats okay. But we will do best if we understand that He knows something we don't know. And even if it hurts in the moment... Trusting Him will always fare better than trusting ourselves.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows." James 1:17
