Read It, Learn It,
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“After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the
teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him
was amazed at his understanding and his answers." – Luke 2:46-47
Twenty one, as in years. The
Bible records the impact of Jesus’ life from the age of 12 through His death at
the age of 33. At the age of 12 he was
in the temple with the Scribes and Pharisees, studying the word of God. His father, Joseph, was a carpenter and his
mother, Mary, was a strong, courageous woman who was loved by the one true
God. We must draw the conclusion that
Jesus was raised learning and memorizing the scriptures, just like the other
boys his age in Nazareth, as was the custom in those days. For you see there was no Bible laying on the
coffee table or nightstand. There were
scrolls for each book and chapter of the Torah (first five books of the bible),
that had been written and re-written over the last 400 years prior to Jesus
birth. But these weren’t available to
the common folk, they were stored in the Synagogue under the watch of the
Pharisees and Scribes of the day. No,
Jesus would have memorized scripture from the teachings of his father and other
men around Galilee.
I was fortunate enough to visit the Western Wall of the temple during one of my visits to Jerusalem many years ago. I was invited to join a father and his family inside of the Western Wall, for their reading from Numbers in their native language. I couldn’t understand a word that the man was saying, but to experience first-hand the love, passion and importance that this father spoke to his children with will forever be etched in my mind. He unfolded the scroll, and read from the scriptures. Then he had his eldest son read some as well, and then the family proceeded to pray together. Closing the scroll, he kissed it and placed it back into the ark for storage until the next day. This principal of reading the scriptures as a family unit was practiced for generations and generations, handed down over centuries. In the days of Jesus the Torah was to be memorized and drawn upon for comfort, peace, law and governing. The Holy Word of God was carried in the hearts and minds of every devout Jew and passed on to the children.
Where has this practice gone and why? Is our life so much more under control that we no longer need to partake in the practice of teaching our children the scriptures? I realize that we live in a much faster paced world than 1st Century AD, but by all means, this is not something we should have let fall away. For it is in knowing the scriptures that we will be made stronger in times of struggle and strife. As we face challenges in this life, drawing upon the wisdom found in the Holy Bible is where we will find the answers.
I can comment to you today that this is a practice that will once again become common in the Palmer household for generations to come. I am no longer content to study God’s word on my own and hope that my children are doing likewise. I am going to take a proactive part in their learning and studying of God’s word. I’m asking each of you reading this Daily Thought today, to take this practice seriously and begin anew reading scriptures with your children, grandchildren, parents and spouses daily. Quit complaining about the demise of Christianity in the 21st century and do something about it. Teach and learn from the One who wrote the book.
I was fortunate enough to visit the Western Wall of the temple during one of my visits to Jerusalem many years ago. I was invited to join a father and his family inside of the Western Wall, for their reading from Numbers in their native language. I couldn’t understand a word that the man was saying, but to experience first-hand the love, passion and importance that this father spoke to his children with will forever be etched in my mind. He unfolded the scroll, and read from the scriptures. Then he had his eldest son read some as well, and then the family proceeded to pray together. Closing the scroll, he kissed it and placed it back into the ark for storage until the next day. This principal of reading the scriptures as a family unit was practiced for generations and generations, handed down over centuries. In the days of Jesus the Torah was to be memorized and drawn upon for comfort, peace, law and governing. The Holy Word of God was carried in the hearts and minds of every devout Jew and passed on to the children.
Where has this practice gone and why? Is our life so much more under control that we no longer need to partake in the practice of teaching our children the scriptures? I realize that we live in a much faster paced world than 1st Century AD, but by all means, this is not something we should have let fall away. For it is in knowing the scriptures that we will be made stronger in times of struggle and strife. As we face challenges in this life, drawing upon the wisdom found in the Holy Bible is where we will find the answers.
I can comment to you today that this is a practice that will once again become common in the Palmer household for generations to come. I am no longer content to study God’s word on my own and hope that my children are doing likewise. I am going to take a proactive part in their learning and studying of God’s word. I’m asking each of you reading this Daily Thought today, to take this practice seriously and begin anew reading scriptures with your children, grandchildren, parents and spouses daily. Quit complaining about the demise of Christianity in the 21st century and do something about it. Teach and learn from the One who wrote the book.
© Sondove
Enterprises, 2013
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
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For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
If you would like to be added to the email distribution please click here: Daily Thoughts
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