What is your favorite childhood game? Mother May I is a popular one, but the most popular among children seems to be Simon Says. In Simon Says one person gets to be Simon and dictate what others do. Whatever Simon says to do is law. It is nonnegotiable and must be followed exactly or you are out of the game. The players focus their full attention on Simon so they won’t mess up and be called out. The last one standing at the end of the game gets to be Simon for the next game.
Most of us grew up playing that game and loved it, yet we have a huge issue allowing God the same authority in our lives we allowed Simon in the game. We don’t like surrendering what we do to Him. When He tells us to do something we try to negotiate with Him, offering our brilliant thoughts we seem to think are better than His. We also stray away from keeping our full attention on God like we do Simon. Why is that? Why are we so willing to play by the rules when we’re playing a game; however, we don’t want rules in real life?
In order to put our full attention on the Lord and do things His way, we must believe He has our best interest in mind. We must completely trust Him. We have a hard time trusting Him because we project our human characteristics onto God. Somewhere along the way we’ve gotten confused. God wasn’t created in our image. We were created in His image [Genesis 1:26].
When we take time to get to know God, we find He is faithful [Revelation 19:11]. He is love [1 John 4:6]. He has our best interest at heart and wants us to succeed [John 10:10]. His desire is to have a relationship with us better than any friendship we’ve experienced. When we develop this type of friendship with Him, He will reveal His secrets to us [Jeremiah 33:3].
Simon’s goal in the game is to trick you into messing up. If he can get everyone out, then Simon wins. God’s goal isn’t to trick us. He is for us [Romans 8:31]. This isn’t a game to Him. Its real and it cost Him everything [John 3:16]. Simon doesn’t exist, but Satan does and he is lobbying for your attention too. He is trying to get you to focus on him and do as he says. He also has plans for you [John 10:10].
Joshua 24:15 states the choice we face each day: “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Whom will you serve today?