From the Mouths of Babes

We attended church this morning and yes, I admit, we sat in the back. I enjoyed the pastor's relaxed, humorous style as he encouraged the congregation to dream big for God in 2010. However, from the wisdom of a six year old, Natalie challenged me to see the sermon in a different light. At the dinner table we asked Natalie what she thought of church this morning. With profound insight, Natalie stated something along these lines, "Well, the pastor seemed to make a lot of jokes and laugh a lot. I felt like he wasn't taking the Bible seriously enough and was just trying to be funny." Natalie continued to expand on her thoughts with heart-felt conviction.

Natalie's statement seemed to coincide with something I have been reflecting on from the writings of Bernard of Clairvaux (a Christian author from the 11th-12th centuries). Bernard used a Latin term for "love" toward God that may not have been the expected word to use. Instead of using amor, he used the word from which we get the English word "diligence". The word shows a high regard, respect, reverence, or devotion to another, a "diligent" devotion, as opposed to a mushy, gushy feeling or mere companionship. Not only this, but the word is also a verb where amor is a noun. In other words, love is an action, not just a thing one possesses.

As we reflect on our love for God, do we take Him seriously enough? Do we posses a diligent devotion, filled with awe and reverence toward our God, our Master, our King? Are we diligent in action, fleeing the hurtful, sinful patterns of life and actively drawing closer to God? Or, are we merely content with an occasional good laugh?