God Can Tie His Own Shoes
By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
08/25/2022
From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:21–23)
Every new experience is an adventure to young children. Like a sponge, they soak up information wherever they go. Children often ask endless questions trying to understand things that seem simple to adults. Sometimes we too quickly brush aside an earnest inquiry from a child instead of taking a moment to help them work their puzzlement. There is great joy in watching the look on a child’s face when he or she figures something out for the first time.
When our daughter Brooke was four years old, she wanted to learn how to tie her shoes in double knots to keep them from coming untied so often. I showed her how to do it again and again, and eventually she got it. She was so proud of her accomplishment. One day, we were walking into church, and I stopped to tie my shoe. As Brooke watched me bend over to tie it, she looked at me with all earnestness, and as if she was genuinely telling me something I did not know, she said, “You know, Dad, you should tie your shoes in double knots. That way, they won’t come untied.”
My first thought was to say, “Of course I know that! I am the one that taught you how to tie double knots, remember?!” I restrained myself, however, and decided to let her enjoy the moment and that feeling of satisfaction that comes from passing on something you know to others. I smiled and said, “You know sweetheart, that’s a great idea. I think I’ll do that.”
As I think about that experience, I wonder how many times I am like Brooke when I deal with my heavenly Father? How often do I try to tell Him how to do things as if He doesn’t already know? The Apostle Peter is guilty of making this mistake. The Lord had just told His disciples about His impending death on the cross. Peter, meaning well but forgetting Who he was talking to, said, “Lord, no way! That won’t happen to You!” (Matthew 16:22) After rebuking Peter sharply for trying to stand in the way of God’s will, Jesus said, “You are not mindful of the things of God but the things of men.” In other words, Peter was not thinking about the situation from God’s perspective, but from his own perspective.
When Brooke gave me that unsolicited shoe-tying advice, she was speaking from her own four-year-old vantage point. She saw an opportunity to contribute to the conversation—a rarity at her age—and she seized it. As we grow up in the Christian faith there will be times when we think we can shed light on God’s divine design for our lives. There will be times when we give God suggestions and pointers, thinking we are doing Him a favor. While there is nothing wrong with being open and transparent with God, we must not forget Who we are talking to. He is the all-powerful, sovereign, Creator of the universe. I think He is fully capable of tying His own shoes, don’t you?
08/25/2022
From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:21–23)
Every new experience is an adventure to young children. Like a sponge, they soak up information wherever they go. Children often ask endless questions trying to understand things that seem simple to adults. Sometimes we too quickly brush aside an earnest inquiry from a child instead of taking a moment to help them work their puzzlement. There is great joy in watching the look on a child’s face when he or she figures something out for the first time.
When our daughter Brooke was four years old, she wanted to learn how to tie her shoes in double knots to keep them from coming untied so often. I showed her how to do it again and again, and eventually she got it. She was so proud of her accomplishment. One day, we were walking into church, and I stopped to tie my shoe. As Brooke watched me bend over to tie it, she looked at me with all earnestness, and as if she was genuinely telling me something I did not know, she said, “You know, Dad, you should tie your shoes in double knots. That way, they won’t come untied.”
My first thought was to say, “Of course I know that! I am the one that taught you how to tie double knots, remember?!” I restrained myself, however, and decided to let her enjoy the moment and that feeling of satisfaction that comes from passing on something you know to others. I smiled and said, “You know sweetheart, that’s a great idea. I think I’ll do that.”
As I think about that experience, I wonder how many times I am like Brooke when I deal with my heavenly Father? How often do I try to tell Him how to do things as if He doesn’t already know? The Apostle Peter is guilty of making this mistake. The Lord had just told His disciples about His impending death on the cross. Peter, meaning well but forgetting Who he was talking to, said, “Lord, no way! That won’t happen to You!” (Matthew 16:22) After rebuking Peter sharply for trying to stand in the way of God’s will, Jesus said, “You are not mindful of the things of God but the things of men.” In other words, Peter was not thinking about the situation from God’s perspective, but from his own perspective.
When Brooke gave me that unsolicited shoe-tying advice, she was speaking from her own four-year-old vantage point. She saw an opportunity to contribute to the conversation—a rarity at her age—and she seized it. As we grow up in the Christian faith there will be times when we think we can shed light on God’s divine design for our lives. There will be times when we give God suggestions and pointers, thinking we are doing Him a favor. While there is nothing wrong with being open and transparent with God, we must not forget Who we are talking to. He is the all-powerful, sovereign, Creator of the universe. I think He is fully capable of tying His own shoes, don’t you?
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