My grandson was born this past Christmas morning. That means he just turned four months old. You’ll probably expect me to say that, being my grandson, he’s already shown himself to be a genius. Well, no, he’s not talking or walking yet. That would be pretty unusual for a four-month-old baby.
While he may turn out to be a genius, thus far he’s doing pretty normal baby stuff. That means several weeks ago he began to smile. And now, this beautiful boy will smile and giggle. It’s a joyous thing for his face to light up, a wide smile to spread across his face, and a giggle to emerge. It is especially joyous when that smile or giggle is directed at you. If you’ve experienced these smiles and giggles, you understand the heart melting that goes on.
What is the natural response to these smiles and giggles? Of course, the response is to do whatever it takes to make him smile and giggle more. Chortles and laughs coming from your own lips. You find yourself making silly faces. Raising and lowering eyebrows. Shaking cheeks back and forth. Blowing raspberry after raspberry.
While playing these games with my grandson, I thought let’s move over to the mirror. He’ll like that. So that’s what we did. He loved it. He could see himself and the faces I was making at the same time. He was simply adorable. But I, looked simply ridiculous. I mean ridiculous with a capital R! Did I care? Nope. Not in the slightest. As long as it made him happy, I didn’t really care what I looked like. I thought about that for a moment. Yep, that’s how my mind works.
I wondered what other things would cause me not to care how silly I looked. Or what other people thought of me. Not many. Yes, this is a pretty simple example. Making faces with a baby is not that big a deal. Still, I’d be happy to throw out my dignity for a few moments, without a second thought, to make my grandson smile. Would I be willing to do anything similar for my God? My king. Or is what other people think more important than honoring my God? And where is the line that I might be unwilling to cross?
In that moment I remembered a song we used to sing in youth group some twenty years ago, “Undignified.” (1) Simple words that went like this”
I will dance, I will sing to be mad for my King
Nothing more that's hindering, there's passion in my soul
I will dance, I will sing to be mad for my King
Nothing more that's hindering, there's passion in my soul
I'll become even more undignified than this
Some may say it's foolishness
But I'll become even more undignified than this, oh yes
We’d get a room full of Middle Schools or High Schoolers to dance like crazy each time the chorus would be sung. Of course, the object lesson, if it sunk in, was that we should serve our God with unabashed passion. No matter what anyone else thought.
The Biblical principle here is taken from 2 Samuel 6. King David has recovered the Ark of the Covenant and is bringing it back to Jerusalem. He is so excited about honoring God in this way that he “was dancing before the Lord with all his might” (2 Sam 6:14). David’s wife, Michal, criticized him, thinking he wasn’t acting in a dignified manner. Not the way a king should act. But David didn’t care. He was more concerned with honoring God than with holding the dignified role that was expected of him as king. (See 2 Samuel 6:12-23).
Somewhat like making silly faces with a baby, do we care what others think, or is it pleasing the baby that is important. Do we need to remind ourselves of the same principle with God? What others think is only important to the extent that it helps draw them closer to our Lord. That was King David’s attitude.
I can’t say what areas that you may be holding back in serving God. Areas where you should be “dancing with all your might.” Instead, you hold back. Perhaps wondering what others might think. Was it an opportunity to share your faith that you let pass by? Maybe, you saw an opportunity to pray with someone who needed a comforting word but you hesitated? Maybe something as simple as the chance to invite a neighbor to church with you passed you by?
We can’t afford to miss opportunities to serve God. In some way to “dance with all your might” before Him. Paul teaches, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Eph 5:15-16).
My friends, don’t be afraid to make “silly faces.” Let’s be more concerned about serving God than what other people think.
love this. thanks for the reminder
Great reminder this morning to not hold back in our faith. Thank you!
Also, Rend Collective has a great song on this called “I Will Be Undignified.”
https://youtu.be/hR1AoXyqsZ0?si=4DgznlYtcZLer_WT