I Spy God Almighty

Witnessing Good Parenting

I was sitting in the back seat with two children. The driver was transporting me from one temporary host to another on a mission trip in South Carolina. The sun was setting and was hanging at the perfect height to send beautiful and bright rays of light through the windshield. I wondered how the driver was able to see with such radiance streaming in. As we were driving into the sunset the driver looked at his wife with a smile and said to the back seat “I spy!”

I thought I know this game and I was ready to wait for more instruction of what to look for. I thought he would give us a color, or a shape, or something….but instead he was interrupted by the two children who blurted out “God almighty!”

A Game to Remember

I first, I was a little put off. I was like “Let the man finish and then let's try to figure it out.” Then I realized that they had finished the game as the driver had intended. The purpose and rules of the game became clear. Their father did not want to play a guessing game, he wanted to play a game of remembrance. The purpose of this game to was to Spy the creation of the almighty God and remember its maker. In this case, they looked at the sunset and were reminded of the one who spoke the words, “Let there be light.”

From what I gathered on the rest of the car ride, is that this a game they spontaneously play anytime they see the beauty of creation. Anyone in the family can initiate it with “I Spy!” and all of them will respond with the cadence of “God Almighty!”

So Many Lessons from that Car Ride

I learned so much as a young man riding in the care with this intentional family. Here are five lessons that I learned and seek faithfully pursue with my family.

1) Show your Children you believe the Bible is true

“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” Romans 1:20

As Christians we believe that God has displayed himself in creation. We can know him and his attributes through what he has made. In a simple car game this family is creating a home that believes we can experience and be reminded of God’s power and divinity through the beauty of nature; Romans 1:20 holding truth for their family.

2) Every moment is an opportunity to worship

“And these words I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to you children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when your rise.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7

God is always worthy of your worship, and every moment is a good moment to talk of who he is and his ways. The moment that was shared on that car ride was a wonderful reminder that even the mundane moments in the car can become wonderful moments of worship. We all wondered together about the creator as we found ourselves in awe of the creation.

3) Beauty is a gift from God

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” James 1:17

Things like sunsets, rainbows, waterfalls and beaches are gifts of God. Beauty is an amazing gift from a loving creator. God wants us to enjoy these gift, and he wants them to remind us of him.

4) Share Christ with your kids no matter who is around

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,” Romans 1:16

The family that I was in the car with had met me for the first time that day. They were responsible for transportation for me and a friend to our next host home. That fact did not stop them from sharing a moment of faith with their children, and in doing so, making a significant impact on a young man who became a father a few years later.

5) Sharing your faith with your children is fun

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3

Sharing your faith with your children is a command of God. Fathers and mothers are ultimately responsible to pass on the truth of who God is and help their children learn to worship and submit to him. But, it does not have to be a burden. The “I Spy” game was a fun way for these children to learn of faith of their parents.