Crap

My son has reached that age at which he doesn't have time for diaper changes. He's got far too much to do to lay still while I clean him. The other day, he had a particularly poopy diaper. It lay still for a solid 5 seconds, and then the squirming began followed by full body flailing and screaming as he voiced his protest. "Buddy, this would all be over if you just stayed still. By fighting me, you're making it much worse than it needs to be."

As he walked away clothed in a fresh diaper, I was convicted. How often do I do the exact same thing? How often has God called me to be still and wait on Him to clean up my crap, but instead I flail and fight to do it on my own. "My child, be still. By fighting Me, you're making it much worse than it needs to be."

Familiar

Ever find yourself bored by the Bible? You've heard the same stories so many times that you've grown numb? Reading through the book of Daniel, I found myself there.

I read the same story that I've heard for decades: King Darius' officials convince the king to make a degree forbidding praying to anyone but himself. Daniel defies this degree and prays to God. His consequence? Being thrown into the lions' den, which of course he survives. Yawn. We all know how the story goes.
Hold up! Blame it on my new found love of Marvel movies. Blame it on God graciously giving me fresh eyes. This is not a "yawn" story. This is miraculous!

Imagine Stan Lee making a "Daniel and the Lions' Den" movie. We see Daniel in a crowd listineing to the king's new decree. His God is suddenly illegal. The camera zooms in on Daniel's face which is both forlorn and confident. He will not abandon his God. Somehow, his God will save him, and even if He doesn't, Daniel confidently trust Him (sounds like a few other characters from a few chapters back *couth Shadrach, Meshach, an Abedigo cough*). The scene switches to Daniel kneeling in his room in prayer when guards bust through the door and apprehend him. With smug faces, they drag Daniel to a pit filled with roaring, leaping lions. As Daniel falls in slow motion into the pit, out of no where an angel zooms in Tony Stark style, gently placing Daniel in the corner of the pit and then shuts the mouths of each and every lion in an epic fight scene (because it won't be a Marvel movie with an epic fight scene).

The scene returns to Darius pacing the night away in his castle. "Daniel's God, if You're real, protect Your servant." As the light barely peaks over the horizon, Darius runs full sprint to the den. "Daniel? Daniel!"

"I'm here, king. My God has protected me."

The film appears to be over, but there's a hidden scene within the credits. Not only has God miraculously saved Daniel's earthly life, but He's also transformed Darius' heart, and as a result, changed his kingdom. We see a final scene that hints at a coming story, of God's plan for salvation for all.

In this advent season, as we hear stories that are often so familiar, I pray that God gives us fresh eyes to see. May we marvel at the miracles of God using a humble virgin to bring His beloved Son to earth to save us all. Lord, remove the veil of familiarity. Trade in our flannel graph understanding for a marvelous epic. Give us eyes to see Your miraculous plan. May we know You more.