"And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 18:2-3)
An incident that occurred last year, as we dismissed the members of the assembly to go to their assigned classes, has a valuable lesson for all Christians. And I believe that within it are truths that many today seemingly, and sadly, are missing
One of the children, Chris and Amy Wingo's daughter Lola, who is now four years old, had gotten up from the pew to head for class when the time came. When she did, she literally RAN to the side door to get there! But, she couldn't open the door. Before I could take even one step to help her, without hesitating, she turned and RAN to the front door! That door, she was able to open, and thus, made it to class. Of course, the adults in the auditorium all chuckled to see this sweet innocent child's determination to get to Bible class. I thought to myself, "here is one who runs to Bible class." This is where the thoughts for this article originated.
She desired to get to Bible class. "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." {1 Peter 2:2} Here is a lesson taught us by a child, a child with a RUNNING desire to study God's word! In His great Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6} Sadly, many desire to establish only their own righteousness; they have no desire for truth.
"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:1-3). For what do we truly "hunger and thirst"? Is it God's Word? Or do we follow worldly pursuits that capture our attention, (and our souls)? The choice is ours to make; but we must be ready to live, throughout eternity, with that choice. It may be that we must!
"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God." (Psalm 42:1-2) David also wrote of the delight that marks the man of God; "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners~ nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night." (Psalm 1:1-2) In what do you delight? Do you wish to be blessed? Then, RUN to Bible study!
Something was blocking her way. It is written: "And when one of them that sat at meat with Him heard these things, he said unto Him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God. Then said He (Jesus) unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said. I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come..." {Luke 14:15-20}
How often do God's children find excuses for not assembling with their brethren, and partaking of the "bread" (cf. Matthew 4:4; John 6:27,48) of the Kingdom? How often do they erect "blocks" to prevent their service to God? Oh, how the devil loves that! He doesn't want lost souls to hear the words of Life.
"Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity." {Luke 8:12-14} Saying "no" is one of our options. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) Sometimes, our resistance is fleeting--too little, too late (cf. Genesis 39:11-12). Lola turned and "fled" from the door that blocked her way to Bible class.
She knew another way. It is written: "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them" (or, they shall have no stumbling block--Psalm 119:165). Lola knew there was another way to class, and she RAN to it. She refused to allow anything to block her way or cause her to stumble.
"Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. ...Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. ... Hear, 0 my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble." (Proverbs 4:1-2,4-5,10-12)
Knowledge without wisdom is like a well without a bucket. Of what good is the water unless it can be used? Of what good is the knowledge of God's Word if the one who has the knowledge does not intend to use it? Lola exercised her knowledge. She employed the "bucket of wisdom" and RAN to Bible class.
This is the kind of desire and action that God requests of us. What a lesson, taught by a child. She didn't fall down or start crying because she couldn't get through the first door. She didn't go back to the pew and pout. She RAN to that Bible class, allowing nothing to stop her; she found a way. "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)
"Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14). We need to be as pure as, and have the innocent, loving, trusting faith of, children. God has said that He is our "Father," and we are His "sons and daughters" (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18). "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 7:1)
Jesus calls us unto Him, as He called a child long ago. And He wants us to RUN to Him, without doubting. Lola ran and didn't stumble; and neither will we if we RUN to the Lord. Have you begun? "Know ye not that they who run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain...Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown: but we an incorruptible." (I Corinthians 9:24.25)