Acquiring—As We Go
Going through life.
Waking. Preparing. Stepping Out. Trusting.
It’s an on-going Inquiry.
Pursuing. Learning. Walking Step-by-Step. Holding Onto & Letting Go.
Teaching. Admonishing. Instructing. Educating. Reading to & with. Learning As We Go.
In my family, we are blessed to have several precious children, and while each child is unique, there is one that reveals the intent of this devotion so well. This child has a name, but for the sake of anomality, let’s refer to her as “the little girl filled with imagination.”
Go with me within our minds to see this little one at play.
- She talks to her imaginary play-friends.
- She talks to her Barbies as though they are actually real.
- She cries when they are sad.
- She sings the songs they would sing if their mouths actually moved.
- She walks throughout the house wearing her mother’s oversized high-heels, traipsing around the rooms, quite adept, clippity-clop, clippity-clop, as she goes.
All alone, most days, that’s how she plays, but in her reality, “the little girl filled with imagination” is surrounded by a crowd.
From where did her imagination come?
From whom does she learn?
From what deep need does her desire to play as she grows come?
From the moment of our conception, there is so much we need to learn. Wherever do we begin? However do we begin acquiring ALL that is necessary to learn. Whenever can we know if enough has been acquired? Whatever should we strive to know? Whomever must we seek as our teacher? & Why do we even care to gain instruction?
“I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.”
(1 Corinthians 4: 14-16)
We are told through the Bible that the Apostle Paul was not a father to sons and daughters in the traditional sense, but that he was a father-figure to so many he instructed in the Word of God. In May, we celebrate Mother’s Day, and in June, we celebrate Father’s Day, but I wonder, should we have a day set aside to celebrate “Mentor’s Day,” an “Imitator’s Day,” and if we did, would Christians take this responsibility more seriously?
- Who are we teaching?
- Who are we leading through this life?
- Who are we instructing?
- Who is teaching us?
- Who leads us through our days?
- Who is our instructor?
“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your sons [and daughters] and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.
You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.
You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
(Deuteronomy 6: 6-9)
As a child of God, no part of our being ever belongs to ourselves. ALL PARTS OF OUR BODIES BELONG TO ALMIGHTY GOD!
As a child of God, the commands of God can never be ignored. ALL GOD’S COMMANDMENTS ARE OURS TO KEEP!
As a child of God, the teachings of our Lord cannot be forgotten. ALL THINGS GODLY MUST BE DILIGENTLY TAUGHT TO OUR BIOLOGICAL & ADOPTED & FOSTER & ACCEPTED CHILDREN!
As a child of God, our speech is not ours to create as we sit around talking. ALL CONVERSATION BELONGS TO OUR FATHER!
As a child of God, walking through our days can never become happenstance. ALL WAKING MOMENTS & ALL OUR SLUMBER—GOD’S—TO LEAD!
As a child of God, walking, lying down, & rising up do not belong to us. ALL BELONG TO GOD!
As a child of God, the wonderful Word of God can never be left behind. ALL SCRIPTURE IS PROFITABLE FOR TEACHING US, FOR INSTRUCTING US, FOR CORRECTING US—AS WE GO THROUGHOUT OUR DAY!
As a child of God, WE BIND THE TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE AS A SIGN PROCLAIMING “CHILD of GOD”—YES, WE ARE!
As a child of God, WE WEAR THE INSTRUCTION OF THE BIBLE WITHIN OUR MINDS, OUR HEARTS, & OUR ACTIONS!
As a child of God, WE CAN WRITE THE WORD of GOD UPON OUR HOMES, OUR VEHICLES, OUR PROPERTY, OUR CHILDREN, OUR CAREERS & OUR EVERYTHING!
We are to be:
- Walking,
- Talking,
- Revealing,
- Leading,
- Teaching,
- Instructing,
- Processing,
- Learning,
- Pursuing,
- Holding Onto,
- Admonishing,
- Educating,
- Constantly Reading,
- Absorbing,
Fully Acquiring Daily—God’s Word—As We Go!
WHY?
Because the “little girls & boys filled with imagination” are watching & imitating us.
Father,
Let us always be mindful of the way we live & speak. Lead us to live for You with every step we take. Forgive us for the wayward words we may casually speak. Keep our eyes focused only upon You. Keep us forever seeking You.
Thank You God for providing us Your new mercy and grace each day.
Help us continually and faithfully seek wisdom only You can provide.
Help us be pleasing to You, Father.
May we know and live Your principles.
May we serve You by serving others.
Help us seek to always bring glory to You as we go.
Lead us to seek numerous opportunities to read Your Word throughout this day and every day.
Keep our thoughts and our communication with You open as we remain praying within the minutes of this day You have given us to live.
Help us be intentional as we walk within this one day.
Help us model Your character through our lifestyle.
Help us teach our children, those born to us & those gifted to us to love.
Help us to intercede for them, allowing our children to hear us pray over them.
Give us strength to love those You have blessed us to love–unconditionally & not based upon what they do or do not do.
Lead us to remember to speak words of love and to breathe life into their hearts.
LORD, help us to not read our Bible seeking only facts and knowledge, but help us read with our only goal to seek Your wisdom & You.
LORD, we dedicate our many “children” You have given us to love—back to You.
Father God, lead us to be pleasing to You always.
We pray, asking You for these things, in Jesus’ name.
Amen.