I was sitting on the bed reading the news when Cole came to me and asked me to tie his shoes.

He brought a small stool with him that he set on the floor at my feet. "Here you go," he said, "you can sit on this."

I looked at the stool. It was a very small foot stool that stood about 12 inches tall at best. He expected me to get off the bed and get down on that itty-bitty stool just so I can tie his shoes? Hmph! I don't think so. In order to sit on it, my knees would end up touching my forehead. I'd be folded up like a clown in one of those little circus cars!

Besides, I was comfortable on the bed. "Why don't you come up here on the bed, instead of making me come down there?"

The words struck me as soon as they came out of my mouth. They were the words of a father who was unwilling to lower himself to his child's level. They were the words of a father who expected his child to come up to his level, instead.

I told myself it was because I'm not as flexible as I used to be, but was that really it?

Or was it arrogance to think that Cole should come up on the bed if he wants my help, rather than me getting down on the floor?

Our heavenly father could have had a similar outlook, couldn't he? He could have refused to lower himself to our level, suggesting - no, demanding - instead that we come up to his.

He could have required us to get our lives straightened out first, only then making provision to save us. But if he'd required that, we'd still be waiting for salvation.

Instead, in his infinite wisdom, mercy and grace, God got down on our level.

According to Philippians 2:7-8, Jesus "made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!"

God, through Jesus Christ, got down on our level instead of demanding that we come up to his.

Because of that, we have the opportunity to receive salvation by acknowledging Jesus' sacrificial death on our behalf and accepting him as savior.

I don't know about you, but I sure am glad he got down on our level, rather than making us come up to his!

Parrish Myers is pastor of Pine Crest Baptist Church in Gainesville.
His column appears every other week in Sunday Life.