God is playful and Immutable (unchangeable) in character, nature, purpose and promises. Immutable facts are rock-solid sureties, which will never change over time. I believe God’s divine DNA includes amazing creativity and playfulness. Think of how God spins planets around the sun, the greatest (ball) ‘keepy-up’ expert in the universe! Consider how God grips us by gravity and grace upon planet earth as we travel at 67,000 miles per hour!

My three year old grandson’s delight in playing games again and again and again has got me thinking about God’s playfulness with us, His precious children. So also, the trees budding, and flowers blooming are bringing regular smiles to my face.

The stories of Jesus are full of humour, mystery and ‘playfulness’. Did you hear the ones about the 100 sheep, one lost, 10 coins, one lost, 2 sons, one lost, but which one!? Hear about the persistent widow, or tenacious neighbour? Feed all these people with 5 loaves and 2 fish. Jesus was full of faithful and playful banter as he proved himself the Son of God.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism says that “[God] is a spirit, whose being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth are infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.” In the Old Testament God is the great ‘I AM.’ Yes, God simply and profoundly ‘IS’. God IS wise, merciful, good, gracious, all powerful, present everywhere, knows everything and is forever, and unchangeably so. God is both faithful and playful, so let me change one word in this famous hymn and see what it does for / to you:

Great is Thy playfulness, O God my Father

There is no shadow of turning with Thee

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy playfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy playfulness, Lord, unto me

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great playfulness, mercy and love

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside

Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy playfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy playfulness, Lord, unto me

“Again Papa, Nana Again!”