Why'd He Do That?

As the father of a five-year-old boy, I've gotten used to fielding questions all that time, anywhere, and about anything? Teddy takes nothing for granted. Why did you do that? What is that? What does it do. Try watching a TV show or a movie with him: Who's he? Is he a good guy or a bad guy? What's going to happen next? When we read him Bible stories he questions as well. He wants to know if the characters and events made God happy or sad, and if the outcome was good or bad. Sometimes he questions God's reasoning, and he is skeptical of symbolism. His concrete mind isn't always ready to accept abstract concepts and metaphors. He has perfected his own sort of diagram to illustrate "the vine and branches" with all the pruning and fruit-bearing. Sometimes his relentless questioning is too much for Dad, but most of the time I am grateful for his lively and flexible intelligence. He is developing the ability to think and reason.

As a church-planting missionary who has spent many years helping to guide followers of Jesus, I continue to appreciate the wonder and excitement of those who seek and find, ask and receive, knock and discover an open door. In our discipleship ministry we can almost always identify those who are truly studying the lessons, reading the Bible, and trying to make sense of it. They seek the underlying truths and the practical applications. They ask questions. Their spiritual minds are developing like Teddy's is in the cognitive realm. Others read the Bible and prepare their lessons in a superficial way. They never ask questions and never seem all that interested in allowing Jesus and his Words to shape the course of their life. It's that first bunch who keep me going forward. I thank God for them.