|
A
Two-Year-Old's Joy
Amelia is the two-year-old daughter of Jason and Kathy Pieratt, who work
and worship with the saints at the East Main church of Christ in
Frankfort, Kentucky. On the Sunday morning that I was with the
congregation recently (I was preaching there in a series of meetings),
just prior to the beginning of services, I heard Amelia’s mother ask,
“Amelia, are you ready to go to class?” The little girl immediately
stopped what she was doing, diverted her attention to the doorway of her
classroom, and joyfully skipped down the aisle to Bible class. Every
adult in the auditorium couldn’t help but notice the reaction. THIS
LITTLE GIRL WANTED TO GO TO BIBLE CLASS!
I have seen that same delight and anticipation for Bible classes
in many other two and three year olds through the years, boys and girls
excited about the prospect of singing and reading about God and eager to
pray to Him.
I wonder… Do I have that same anticipatory feeling about
the Bible classes I attend? And as I write this short piece, I further
wonder, how could I not? A study of the Bible is involved. (What
else, of course.) This Bible is God’s only means of directly
communicating with me. How could that not be exciting?! Think about it:
words from the very mind of an all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-caring
God. Every time I study it I’m examining a part of the only book that
contains “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).
It is the only book that can make me “complete, thoroughly equipped for
every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Further, these Bible classes involve group studies! What a
blissfully wonderful blessing, that I can meet with other spiritual
family members to discuss with them my findings and theirs in the
Scriptures, all under the direction of a capable teacher! (And that this
is a privilege not regularly experienced by all brethren in this world
ought to only heighten my appreciation for these studies.)
“Behold, I long for Your precepts…“ -- “I opened my mouth and
panted, for I longed for your commandments” (Psalm 119:40,131). Is this
how I feel about it? If what I have described in these few paragraphs
has become ‘ho-hum’ to me, I need to get a hold of my spiritual senses.
Brethren have been meeting in different localities over the last
twenty centuries to read and digest the epistles, gospels, and other
books of the Bible (Colossians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:27). They are a
great honor, these opportunities afforded to me.
May God instill within me a heart that would joyfully skip
to Bible class.
--Mike Noble
|
