“I have concluded that when it comes right down to it, there is really only one thing I as a pastor have to offer my congregation---and only one thing that the church has to offer the world. In my role as a pastor people come to me with all sorts of problems, but I confess: I am a physician with but one medicine to prescribe, and that is the gospel of Christ. It may need to be applied in various ways, various aspects of it may need to receive the right emphasis, and it may need to be administered in the right form. But only the gospel of Jesus Christ can heal the deepest wounds of the human heart and enable us to prosper according to God's design, bringing glory to our Lord.” Dr. Bill Kynes of Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church, Annandale, VA This is a powerful quote, posted on The Gospel Coalition blog. Thank you, Dr. Kynes, for speaking truth to all of us.
Three Not-So-Childish Questions
Excellent or Praiseworthy is posted on Monday and Thursday nights.
He (Jesus) said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:14,15
If you have spent any time around children, you know that there are certain questions they repeat—and repeat—and repeat.
I have pondered three of those oft-repeated questions, because I believe they point to spiritual questions as well.
1. “Why?”
A pre-schooler is good at asking this question in response to just about anything and everything.
We would do well to ask it ourselves—because our culture seems to be accepting the “sound-bite” philosophy of our age. If a celebrity or charismatic leader says something which “catches on”, it can be easily accepted as truth—whether true or not—and repeated.
The better question to ask ourselves would be: “What does Scripture say about _______?”
“Why?” Because there are consequences to following the deceptions of this world.
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:8,9
2. “Yea . . . Says Who?”
When two children face off in a disagreement, it can come down to “says who?” Good question.
Closely related to the prior question of “Why?” but pin-pointing the source of truth and not just the statement itself, this question gets to the heart of the matter. Exactly who is the moral authority for our lives?
2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us that Scripture is “God-breathed”—from God itself. Our Source. Our Maker. Truth.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
3. “Are we there yet?”
Car trips, especially . . . mile after mile, and the little ones get restless. “Are we there yet?”
Good question for all of us—and the Puritans used to refer to our life on earth as “the great not-yet.”
We are sojourners here on earth . . . pilgrims passing through on our way to eternal life in the presence of Jesus Christ
We are not in heaven yet, but we will be. That is our home: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Philippians 3:20,21
Oh to be like a child again—child-like faith, child-like innocence, child-like trust. They ask good questions—and point us to God.
Questions to Share:
1. Can you relate any of these three questions to your time during deployment?
2. What statements have you heard, questioned,–and then decided to check with the truth of Scripture?
Related Posts
Comments (0)