At 6:20 yesterday morning, I got a text from Cindy Goodfellow. It showed an emoji of praying hands and another hand with a finger pointed towards the heavens. She wrote: “You will need it this morning.”
Usually, I don’t get threatening text messages from members of our church but yesterday was special.
Our church has one children’s Sunday school class that operates life the mafia. It is led by Cindy, Adrian, and Martha. Their goal is to make sure the children know more about Bible than their pastors. It is absolutely wonderful.
Every year, the children compete against the pastors in a huge, throwdown, no holds barred contest on Biblical trivia. It’s a loud, energy filled time when the children show their superiority. This happened yesterday.
As members of the church lined the back of the classroom, the excited children sat on the floor, while Pastor Kit and I sat at a table waiting to start the epic showdown.
I must admit, there was a lot of trash talking on both sides, but I was confident because Pastor Kit and I have degrees in this sort of stuff. We were ready.
We were ready for everything except Cindy’s questions, but the children knew their stuff.
No, I don’t know how many words are in the New Testament, what is the shortest verse in the Bible, or how many women are quoted in scripture. The children always had the right answers.
Then, to make matters worse, when we had the contest to put the books of the Bible in order, I had revers two of the minor prophets. This really was embarrassing because I know this stuff. The children refused to let me forget it. I will have to live with this shame for an entire year.
Needless to say, the children walked out of the classroom holding their trophies with their heads held high. It could not have gone better.
The reason I am willing to take this sort of abuse is because the children are so motivated to beat their pastors, they put in the time and effort to really know and fall in love with the Bible. The credit goes to their amazing teachers.
The wisest of all people said, “Train children in the way they should go; when they grow old, they won’t depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
I don’t know what trials and tribulations our children will face in the future, but I know, because of three women that have started their own crime syndicate, our children’s lives will be grounded on the strong rock of scripture. Because of this, they will be able to navigate the storms of life. For this, I am very thankful.
Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, thank you for the teachers that enable our children to know you through your book. Bless them and bless the children they teach. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Because of our teachers, our children are in very good hands.
Also, because I have called Cindy, Adrian, and Martha an organized crime syndicate, I am going into the government’s witness protection program. Pray for me.
I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins
Daily Devotionals by Dr. Tom Robbins 