I am writing this on a Sunday morning. Yesterday, we had the first day of a 2-day weekend Vacation Bible School at my church. I’ll be honest, I was very discouraged and downcast the week prior to and even up to the point at 12:00 when we officially began. Despite sending personal invitations in the mail to prior attendees, putting up flyers in the area, inviting people via our Facebook page, and several other ways of getting out the message I had only heard back of maybe 3 to 5 children possibly showing up. And when we did start, we only had 4 children in attendance. I had several encouraging voices around me of other adults reminding me that that numbers aren’t important, that it is always worth it even if you impact the life of one child. I was doing my best to hold on to that advice; yet, it was hard. I was also doing my best to not let my disappointment and discouragement show to the children who were there. I was being as upbeat and positive as I could on the outside, even while not feeling it on the inside.
By the time I got home last night, I was in a much better frame of mind and mood. Though the crowd was small, we had a wonderful afternoon. It was great watching the kids (and joining in with them) have a day filled with laughter, fun, tasty meals, fellowship with each other and, yes, some moments of learning about how God loves us and wants us to share that love with others.
Additionally, as God tends to do, he showed up in an unexpected way and taught Me a lesson in the midst of me teaching the children. We were discussing Matthew 3:13-17 which is the account of Jesus being baptized by John in the Jordan River. We were talking about what happened after Jesus was baptized, about how heaven was opened, a dove descended, and voice from heaven declared, “This is my Son whom I dearly love; I find happiness in him.”
It was at that point that one of the children, a very soon-to-be 6 year old, asked a question. He wanted to know if the people that were there watching this baptism heard this voice with their ears or did they just hear God speak to them in their hearts? I want you to read that question again. It is a very profound question for someone of such an age. I started looking around the room for the Pastor because I was going to pass that question off to him. Unfortunately for me, it was one of the rare times he had chosen to step out of the room. So I gave my best answer. First, I told the child that was a great question to even ask in the first place. Second, I told him that the Bible doesn’t say for sure but that for me personally when I read that passage I have always taken it to mean they heard an actual voice with their ears. Later, when the pastor came back in the room we went to him for his answer to the question. His answer was basically the same – we can’t know for an absolute certainty. It could have been either way. He also was impressed at the depth of this child’s question and told him so. Ultimately, the point is that the people there heard and received the message from God, whether or not it was received audibly or through their hearts being attuned to God.
While the question itself was important, in this situation for me the actual answer to the question is not the main lesson here. The lessons to be found are within the asking of the question by this six-year-old. Following, are my take-aways from this situation.
First, the fact he asked the question showed he was not only listening to the story, but he was in fact engaged in active listening. He wasn’t just hearing what was happening. He was actively placing himself in the story. He was trying to imaging himself there with the people and wondering how they felt at the time and how they experienced the event. That is the approach we all should take when we are studying events of the Bible. Putting ourselves within the story helps us open ourselves up to what is being taught and prepares us to learn what God is trying to tell us and teach us.
Second, I was impressed and heartened to know that this young child at this young age has already grasped the concept that God can indeed speak to our hearts individually. He is already aware that God does reach out to us and does talk to us, whether we hear with our ears or not. It is vitally important for us to know that God can lead, guide, and direct us by speaking directly to our hearts. Hearing that still, small voice within us is important to both our personal spiritual development as well as how we are led to interact and engage with others.
Third, by asking the question that he asked, he showed that in his mind there are no limits to what God can do. Just because this six-year-old has never heard God speak out loud to to the point he can hear him with his ears, he has not ruled out the possibility that God has the ability to, in fact, do just that very thing. How many times as adults do we, either consciously or unconsciously, put such limitations on how God can act or move within our lives? I know I am guilty of this! Just because we have yet to see God move or act in some specific manner previously in our lives does not limit God’s capabilities to do so.
Yes, as adults there are some childish ways we have to put aside to become mature. However, we are also called to have a childlike faith in regards to the kingdom of God. See Matthew 18:1-4. Today I encourage you to be an active listener when being taught or reading lessons in the Bible, know and trust that God can and will speak directly to your hearts, and don’t put limitations on how God can and move within your life just because you haven’t seen it done that way before.
Notes from a Book Nerd 