perspicuity

by Patty Morwood

A few weeks ago I sat in the foyer at church, listening to children recite Scriptures. Some spit them out in seconds, others were uncertain and shy.  All had lived with their assigned verses for weeks and their mamas stood by, so supporting and encouraging as their young voices spoke the greatest Truth that has ever captivated the human mind.

Jim Berg wrote in Changed into His Image that the Bible’s “imagery of planting, watering, fertilizing, pruning, and harvesting was not chosen … because of the nature of the people [or their agrarian culture] but because of the nature of the truth …”

Even if we aren’t farmers in the real sense – though we may preside over a collection of container veggies – we grow and disciple others spiritually in ways similar to the nurturing of our summer tomatoes. 

But first we must become a follower of His Word ourselves. 

We must pour over His explanations of Himself, memorize His sentences, cultivate a desire to obey Him.  The Bible’s perspicuity guarantees that we will slowly and remarkably understand the revealed mind of God as we walk His path through life, tucking the Word in our hearts and minds.
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That’s why we have this rich Book in our hands, why thousands have died to have this Book in their language, why we teach our little ones to hide its truths in their hearts.

Even a child can understand its sentences … with a bit of mommy-help. 

One of my sons memorized an incredible collection of Scriptures from a Bible Memory Association booklet when he was three years old.  He stood there with darling little fat cheeks and deep brown eyes reciting sentences he could actually understand. 

“A- all we like sheep have gone astray.”  I just had to explain a tiny bit and define one word, but it wasn’t hard to find a practical application. Teasing and baiting his twin brothers mercilessly deserved consequences. 

“B- but He was wounded for our transgressions.”  Jesus died for this sin, son; why are you doing it?

 “C- children, obey your parents in the Lord.” 

“D- draw near to God and He will draw near to you,”

“E- even a child is known by his doings.” 

There was a scripture for every letter of the alphabet in that little booklet.  And each was chosen because three year olds could understand them; and mommies could teach and pray them.

When my brown eyed toddler grew up and had his own two year old, he asked if I still had his little memorization book … the ABCs of Truth for Children.

Yes, I’d been waiting. 

For I knew that one day there would be another toddler, one that would live in his house. 
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And yes, she has deep brown eyes and fat little cheeks too.