THE CHILDREN'S SCHOOLING

It is strange that our word 'school' coming from an older language, first meant a place where persons spent their spare time. They met there to talk about things they thought to be important to their lives. But what is really important for us is to be taught of God in His school. He has, in His wisdom, a number of assistant teachers, as we may call them.

For one thing, the creation it self is used in the Scriptures as a lesson-book for us. The Lord Jesus spoke often of trees, flowers, animals, fish, insects and other creatures that received being through Him. If you count up, you will find in the Gospels about seventy various familiar things used by Him as earthly pictures in His heavenly teaching. The apostle Paul, too, reminds us that one of nature's lessons is that long hair is a shame to a man, but glory to a woman.

In older Bibles the word 'schoolmaster' is used for the law given through Moses. This includes the Ten Commandments and its value is that it teaches a knowledge of God, who gave it. But when He "sent forth his Son" He was more fully revealed as Father. Then He has "sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts", as believers, so that we are able to do the things that please Him freely and not just as a law.

Our daily life is like a school and the "grace of God" has come to teach us. Not only is this a teacher with a very pleasant name, but before it sets us our lessons it brings salvation for all who will receive it. Some of the lessons are in the epistle to Titus chapter two. God's grace also encourages us to look out of the school window which, like that in Noah's ark, is at the top! Are you one of the many scholars, old and young, who are awaiting the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ?

J.C.Evershed