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REFLECTION
Youthful Knowledge
by David Thompson
There is so much in this world today that can confuse you and perhaps even lead you down a path of belief or action that you never thought you would think or take. This is true of all of us, especially if we are somewhat soft on what we believe and why we believe it.
It reminds me of the "trial of the century" back in 1996. OJ Simpson was on trial for killing his wife and a man named Ron Goldman. I recall watching the evening wrap-up each night. Marcia Clark and Johnny Cochran were the main players in the nightly summaries. First Marcia Clark would summarize the day, the evidence and the guilt of OJ Simpson and I would say "Oh yes, he is guilty." But then Johnny Cochran, defense attorney, would get up and take us back through the same day, the same evidence and the innocents of OJ Simpson and I would say, to my surprise, "You know, there is some reasonable doubt." I was soft on what I believed.
As the passage teaches us, we can be swayed in what we believe about God and Christ. Eph. 4:14 reminds us, "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming." (NIV) To this day, I have a good number of moral and spiritual absolutes that my mother taught me when I was very young. These absolutes come to my mind like recordings of my mother's teachings. Thanks be that she was a Godly woman and taught me so much. I am reminded of another passage. It is Prov. 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (KJV)
Today's scripture begins, "As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what He promised us--eternal life." (v.24-25) This is good advice to parents raising their children. However, it is also good advice to all of us as we work out our own salvation. Hide the Word in your hearts, attend worship services regularly, and perhaps get involved in a small group that can speak to your level of knowledge. You might need spiritual milk right now, but soon you will move on to more solid spiritual food. It is all a process, a Christian walk continuum.
PRAYER PRACTICE
Lectio – Read today’s passage through once. Then spend some time praying and asking God to show you what you need to pay attention to in the text. Read it again. Now ask God to help you see what this text, and the part that has stood out, may mean for you. Don’t expect to get a clear word every time but always be ready to really hear from God through His Word.
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