Last Sunday, during the Sunday school hour, I was in a Bible skills contest with our third, fourth, and fifth graders. What made me anxious about the whole thing was their darling, grace-filled, joyous teacher, Mrs. Goodfellow, looked at me and snarled, “You’re going down.” She scared the tar out of me.
The diabolical questions Cindy asked were the sorts of things that not even Jesus knows. Questions like: “How many words in the NIV Bible? How many verses in the NIV Bible? How many Bibles are sold each minute?” I was completely out of my depth.
Then, to make matters worse, when she actually started asking real questions about the Bible, the children were pushing the buzzer like little maniacs. They knew the answers, which made my day. Even though the children put a real whoopin’ on me, it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable whippings I have ever gotten. That’s because I realized our church does it right and going through Cindy’s Sunday school class is a necessary rite of passage that helps our children understand and retain the important messages God has for us in scripture.
King Solomon said, “Train children in the way they should go; when they grow old, they won’t depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
One of the greatest gifts you can give your child is firm foundation in scripture. God will use that knowledge to help them build lives of legitimate, holy purpose. It matters.
Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, I thank you for the Cindys of the world that help our children come to know you. Please use me for the same purpose. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
When I grow up, I want to be a Cindy (minus the scary part).
Also, I cannot wait till next August when we have another Bible skills contest. It was the highlight of my summer.
I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins
Daily Devotionals by Dr. Tom Robbins 