THE CHILDREN'S THOUGHTS

We can well believe that the thoughts of Saul in his boyhood at the great port and caravan city of Tarsus were much the same as those of any other child taught to believe in God. He did not however have the advantage that we have now of knowing Jesus as Lord. Sadly, he thought when older that he must do much against that Name. But a sight of Jesus in glory changed his whole outlook - as it does our own. All his energies of mind and body were turned to furthering the truth. In doing so he had to put certain untrue things out of his mind and this is an important lesson for us to learn too. Later in life he wrote ten times in one epistle the words "Far be the thought".

At all times we must realise that God can and does read our thoughts "afar off". In the same Psalm that David spoke about this he also said "How precious are thy thoughts to me, O God". He even tried to count them but it was like trying to count the sand at the sea-side! Yet it is a good task to set ourselves to search out His thoughts from the Scriptures even though they be higher than our own as the heavens are higher than the earth-. in this way He who searches our hearts will find there what is pleasing to Himself.

Timothy was familiar with the ancient Scriptures from childhood. Perhaps he had learned some parts by heart, as every believer should. The Lord Jesus spoke of certain "sections" of the Old Testament and these with many other passages would help Timothy to follow the new teaching forming the New Testament as we know it. Paul insisted that he should think about these things and the Lord would give him "understanding in all things". This is one of the great promises in God’s word of which we may 'remind' Him in our prayers.

I have just seen these lines about the Bible. Can you learn to say them?

Study it carefully,

Think of it prayerfully,

Deep in thy heart let its pure precepts dwell.

Slight not its history,

Ponder its mystery,

None can e'er prize it too fondly and well.

J.C.Evershed