Jesus & Bee stings

Titus got a bee sting on his chest today.  
Right away he said, "I got stung on my heart.  Right where Jesus lives."  

In the midst of his tears, there was beauty.  I love how at this age, his faith is not so much on what he does or doesn't know about Jesus or any grand experiences he has had, but simply on what he believes to be true.  Titus believes, because Jesus is just that simple to him.  Jesus is not shrouded in great mystery, He isn't too lofty or unattainable, there isn't something about Jesus, Titus is trying to uncover or resolve.  Jesus is just who he learns who he is in Sunday school or through the Bible stories we read together or who I sing to him about every night.  Jesus doesn't need to be anything more or less.  

  

I remember when I was his age and Jesus was new to living in my heart.  I remember vividly my Sunday school teacher sharing with us the verse in Revelation about how Jesus knocks on the door of our hearts and whoever hears his voice and opens the door, then they would be friends and have dinner together.  I remember visualizing Jesus standing at my big red Valentines day sharped heart and knocking.  It was just that simple and just that beautiful.  Children believe with their heart and not with their minds.  

I don't see it as naive or immature.  Actually, quite the opposite.  

Titus believes when He asked Jesus into his heart, Jesus came to live with him in his heart.  He wants to protect Jesus at all costs while he is in there.  Surely the day will come when he learns Jesus doesn't physically live inside his heart, but the years of physical closeness, love, and protection for Jesus will have set a sweet course for intimacy with his loving Father.  There is a reason no one ever says, Jesus wants to come live in your head.  

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Proverbs 4:23

"When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."  Colossians 3:4

"I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 10:10

"Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life.  He comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35

"I delight to do Thy will, O Lord; Thy will is within my heart."  Psalm 40:8

Over the years, my husband and I have come to greatly admire a 

few of the older folks in our church home.  They are wise.  

They are all into their late 70's and 80's and they all have different life stories.  

A few have had large families, while others fought infertility, they have been on the front lines of war, some have battled cancer, they have held jobs, voted for many different Presidents, some have been married for 60 years and some have never been married.  As my husband and I talk, and as we listen to APU chapel speakers and the discussions about Christianity around us, we are coming to realize that some of the people we admire the most have the most childlike faith.  Their life's mission hasn't been to discover something new about Jesus, unfounded by biblical scholars thus far, it has been to live with Jesus as their life, to know him through his word, to remain steadfast in Him, to serve him, to live being pursued by Him and yet also to be pursuers of Him.  They know him as Abba.  Savior.  Immanuel.  Jehovah Jireh.  Risen Lord.  The great I AM.  Lion.  Lamb.  Healer.  Friend.  King.  They have been curious, searched for answers, and questioned I am sure.  They would say there are things about Jesus they don't yet know, but that isn't what causes their revrence-it's what they do know that brings them to their knees in awe.  HE is in their hearts, just like he lives in Titus' heart. He is the wellspring of life.

As Titus grows up, he will have started with knowing Jesus through his heart and he will spend years getting to know more of Jesus with his mind, but I truly hope and pray that as he lives and ages what he comes to know in his mind doesn't cloud or try to over-impress his heart.  I want him to live with Christ as his life-not just in his life, but as his life.  

One of my favorite hymns...

My Faith Has Found A Resting Place  My faith has found a resting place— Not in device or creed: I trust the ever living One— His wounds for me shall plead. Enough for me that Jesus saves— This ends my fear and doubt; A sinful soul I come to Him— He’ll never cast me out. I need no other argument, I need no other plea; It is enough that Jesus died, And that He died for me. My heart is leaning on the Word— The written Word of God: Salvation by my Savior’s Name— Salvation through His blood. I need no other argument, I need no other plea; It is enough that Jesus died, And that He died for me. My great Physician heals the sick, The lost He came to save; For me His precious blood He shed, For me His life He gave. I need no other argument, I need no other plea; It is enough that Jesus died, And that He died for me. credits