"Show me!  Show me!  Show me how you did that, Uncle  Jimmy!" my now, eight year old nephew CJ blurted out as we sat  playing video games together.

I had just (unintentionally - I assure you) completed some fancy  maneuver that apparently impressed him.  Somehow I had managed  to turn his player into ice and had scored a win.  Don't ask me to explain it to you, because I'm not too sure about it myself.

He was so excited about me showing him how to do this special  move.  I almost started laughing.  It was comical, but it was also  kind of refreshing.

You see, kids want to learn.  They want to be taught.  Granted, the older they get, the less they want to learn, but while they are young,  they want to learn things.  They are curious.  "How does that work?   Why does this happen?  Where is that place?"  If you've raised children or even been around them for a short time, you'll find them  constantly asking questions.  They just want to learn.

I guess that's why, at least in part, that the Bible says, "Train up a  child in the way he should go:  and when he is old, he will not depart   from it."  It's interesting that the Bible says, "Train up a child."  It  doesn't say "train up a teenager" or "train up an adult."  It says,  "train up a child."  Part of  it is because their minds aren't cluttered with all of the junk that seems to find it's way in there as they grow  up.  Part of it is because they haven't developed any preconceived  ideas and opinions that are hard to break down.  Part of it is simply  because they will have a lifetime of usable information, instead of  just part of a life.

But, part of the reason the Bible says, "Train up a child" is because  kids are teachable.  And, they old they get, the harder it is to teach  them.  If they don't learn respect at an early age, it's hard to teach it  to them later.  If they don't recognize authority when they are young, it's hard to instruct them on it later.  The later in life people get, the  harder it is to teach them.

I find a very interesting comparison within the spiritual realm of  things as well.  When we were "babes" in Christ, we had more of a  desire to learn the things of God.  But, oftentimes, the "older" we get  in Christ, the harder it is to teach us.

Think about it.  When you first got saved, I'm guessing that you  couldn't get enough of the Bible.  You had an "inquiring mind."    You were excited about being in Sunday school and listening to the  preaching of God's Word.  You wanted to know what God said about  the issues that you faced each day.  You soaked up the Word like a  sponge soaks up water.   Sound about right?

I'll ask you a simple question.  What I just said described you when  you first got saved...  

...but does it describe you today?

How long has it been since you had a desire for the Word like that?   When was the last time you were excited about the Bible?  Like a  deer panting for the water?  Like a kid learning a new maneuver on a video game?

A strange thing happens as we "grow up" in Christ...we don't spend  as much time honestly and diligently searching the scriptures.  I  don't know if we think we have learned it all or maybe we don't find  it as useful as we once did, or, perhaps we think we just don't need it  like we did before.  I don't know what it is, but I can sure see how it  affects our lives.  It's like a sickness that, almost systematically, every aspect of our lives until it slowly drains the life right  out of us.

It's a sickness called "neglect."  It's a direct result of not taking the  time to be teachable.

Being teachable requires two things:  absorbtion and application.   We've got to soak it up and we've got to use it.  We've got to learn it  and we've got to live it.

Christianity is kind of like a school that we never really graduate  from  until the Lord calls our names to receive our heavenly  diplomas.  It's a school that's always in session, always offering  something that is fresh and alive and exciting to those who are  willing to be taught.  The Bible is its curriculum, giving us practical  advice and wise counsel for living our Christian lives.

And Jesus is the Master Teacher of Christianity.  And He has  something He would like to share with you.  The question is...

...are you going to school today?

Have a "Wonderful DAY in Christ,"
Jimmy D. Brown
\o/ Praise Jesus!