The apostle Paul mentored a young protege called Timothy. As he came to the close of his life, Paul saw it as an urgent matter to encourage Timothy to be a lifelong learner.
Timothy had clearly got off to a good start. Paul reminds his young reader in 2 Timothy 1:5,
"I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well." (ESV)
In chapter 3 he goes on,
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."
In many different places, the Bible has been associated with learning. At schools in the developing world, it is often used not just as a textbook for teaching religious studies but also for teaching English (or the local language).
I think of the story of Mary Jones in Wales at the dawn of the 19th century. Christians who hear of the remarkable account of this young Welsh girl often travel to visit Bala, in central Wales, where she walked barefoot 26 miles to buy a Bible.
Mary was of humble stock and lived in a remote Welsh village. As a small child of nine years old, she had to help her mother with many of the household chores. Her father, a weaver who had previously supported the family, had died. She attended her local chapel and used to love looking at the Bible that the minister used. Being unschooled, though, she was unable to read it.
Then a schoolmaster, Mr Evans, moved into the village and she learned to read. Wouldn't it be wonderful, she thought, to have a Bible of her very own! But books were a costly item in those days. Mary saved and saved, doing odd jobs for people in the village. Finally after six years she scraped together enough money to buy a Bible.
Rev Thomas Charles was the nearest agent for the purchase of Bibles and he lived in Bala. Having progressed thus far in her quest, Mary was not to be daunted by the huge walking distance. Now aged fifteen, she set off, not daring to keep her shoes on in case they wore out.
When she arrived, Thomas Charles was not able to give her a Bible there and then, but after a couple of days he gave her not only one for herself but also two more copies for her family!
How happy Mary Jones was to have a Bible she could read and learn from! I hope she continued all her life to be just as keen to learn. Sadly I meet Christians who think they know it all. They may be willing to absorb ever more Bible facts but do not want anyone to suggest to them how they could work better and be more effective for their church.
I regard myself as a disciple, and I love to see others being disciples too, willing to learn. I think that would be the mind of my Master, because the Lord Jesus had sharp words for those who thought they knew it all. His story of the Pharisee and the tax-gatherer is familiar to many people. It tells of the Pharisee who thought he was well in with God and the tax-gatherer who simply asked God's mercy on him, a sinner. Luke tells us explicitly that Jesus
"told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt" (Luke 18:9).
God forbid we should be found among those who reckon they have no more need to learn! Incidentally, there is a footnote to the Mary Jones story. Rev Thomas Charles was so inspired by Mary's keenness to read the Bible that in 1804 he helped set up the British and Foreign Bible Society, which still exists today as the Bible Society.
Friday 26 June 2015
Thursday 11 June 2015
"The Size of Wales"
As I write, I am enjoying one of my frequent visits to North Wales, a delightful part of the country that I never tire of visiting.
Welsh people must think their country has somehow become the universal point of comparison. Land areas are often described as being "as big as Wales", "half the size of Wales", "double the size of Wales" or whatever. The Welsh must surely puzzle over the reasons for this.
Like most countries with a long coastline, Wales does not have a clear overall shape, but it is easy enough to size up roughly the area it covers. With the arrival of major roads where you can drive (relatively) fast, it is a measurable size. You can comfortably cover the length of it - assuming you drive parallel to it up the west of England - and the breadth of it in one day. This done, the statement that the Holy Land is "roughly the size of Wales" becomes meaningful.
This sparks off a number of points to ponder. It was a revelation to me when I realised that the events of the biblical Book of Ruth took place within a small segment of this Wales-sized country, extending a little into foreign territory, Moab, a few miles to the east. The character Ruth looms large in salvation history. This vulnerable Moabite foreigner, who needed a helping hand to gain a foothold in Israel, became the ancestor not only of the great King David but also of the Messiah Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ. Massive spiritual beginnings - in such a small slice of land!
Then the Lord Jesus also limited His earthly work mostly to this small east Mediterranean country. How true it is that Jesus was
"Our God contracted to a span,
incomprehensibly made man"
as Charles Wesley put it! We see in the Gospel record the breathtaking energy that results from the universal might of God being focused on one individual in that small patch of land.
But to return to my talk of comparisons. How boldly we boost our image in this day and age when we have achieved so much! Of course, every age has produced its mighty works. The British Isles bear witness to the gigantic construction projects even of Stone Age man. The story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11) is testament to a nation who presumed to create a city containing a structure that would end up as high as heaven. But God laughed at their puny efforts.
"Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech,” He resolved (Genesis 11:7, ESV). Then He "dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city."
The God of the universe bears no comparison.
"To whom then will you compare me,
that I should be like him?" says the Holy One.
"Lift up your eyes on high and see:
who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
calling them all by name,
by the greatness of his might,
and because he is strong in power
not one is missing.
Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
'My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my right is disregarded by my God'?"
Isaiah 40:25-27
We can never get the measure of God. It is a sobering thought that He has got the measure of us. But it is comforting that He notices those who call on Him, pleading the merits of Jesus whom He has sent into our little space.
Welsh people must think their country has somehow become the universal point of comparison. Land areas are often described as being "as big as Wales", "half the size of Wales", "double the size of Wales" or whatever. The Welsh must surely puzzle over the reasons for this.
Like most countries with a long coastline, Wales does not have a clear overall shape, but it is easy enough to size up roughly the area it covers. With the arrival of major roads where you can drive (relatively) fast, it is a measurable size. You can comfortably cover the length of it - assuming you drive parallel to it up the west of England - and the breadth of it in one day. This done, the statement that the Holy Land is "roughly the size of Wales" becomes meaningful.
This sparks off a number of points to ponder. It was a revelation to me when I realised that the events of the biblical Book of Ruth took place within a small segment of this Wales-sized country, extending a little into foreign territory, Moab, a few miles to the east. The character Ruth looms large in salvation history. This vulnerable Moabite foreigner, who needed a helping hand to gain a foothold in Israel, became the ancestor not only of the great King David but also of the Messiah Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ. Massive spiritual beginnings - in such a small slice of land!
Then the Lord Jesus also limited His earthly work mostly to this small east Mediterranean country. How true it is that Jesus was
"Our God contracted to a span,
incomprehensibly made man"
as Charles Wesley put it! We see in the Gospel record the breathtaking energy that results from the universal might of God being focused on one individual in that small patch of land.
But to return to my talk of comparisons. How boldly we boost our image in this day and age when we have achieved so much! Of course, every age has produced its mighty works. The British Isles bear witness to the gigantic construction projects even of Stone Age man. The story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11) is testament to a nation who presumed to create a city containing a structure that would end up as high as heaven. But God laughed at their puny efforts.
"Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech,” He resolved (Genesis 11:7, ESV). Then He "dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city."
The God of the universe bears no comparison.
"To whom then will you compare me,
that I should be like him?" says the Holy One.
"Lift up your eyes on high and see:
who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
calling them all by name,
by the greatness of his might,
and because he is strong in power
not one is missing.
Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
'My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my right is disregarded by my God'?"
Isaiah 40:25-27
We can never get the measure of God. It is a sobering thought that He has got the measure of us. But it is comforting that He notices those who call on Him, pleading the merits of Jesus whom He has sent into our little space.
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