The hour was ending as Ms. Sheila made her way from table to table admiring the work of her three to five year olds in Little Learners. As she approached Amelia’s favorite spot, the sensory bin, Amelia opened fire, peppering her with one question after another. Ever attentive, Ms. Sheila attempted to answer each query, pausing momentarily to glance toward Amelia’s mom with a smile. “She’s asking some really good questions.” Amelia beamed, unfazed and continued her questioning.
Amelia is always listening. I recognize her incredible attentiveness each time she plays independently. She repeats words and ideas, including complete phrases she’s overheard in conversations. She replays recent events where she is the adult caring for her babies. She’s constantly chattering or singing and though her lyrics may be a bit off, she carries a tune beautifully. Of course, I think this means she’s brilliant, as are all of my grandchildren. We call that Lolly prerogative.
Jesus also asked excellent questions. When the religious leaders tried to trap Him in inconsistency, He often as not turned the question back on them. Even as a child, His questions astounded them. Twelve year old Jesus amazed the temple teachers with His understanding. I catch a glimpse of Mary’s knowing smile, after she had gotten past all the motherly emotions of having located her missing son. I know that smile. It accepts the compliment while holding back remarks like “you ain’t seen nothing yet!” Just ask me about my grandchildren and you will see it.
“Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions.
All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.”
Luke 2:46-47 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.2.46-47.NLT
Luke rounds out this vignette by remarking that Jesus was obedient to his parents and that his mother stored all these things in her heart. In addition to His trip to the Temple in Jerusalem at age twelve, Luke two contains the traditional Christmas story text from Joseph and Mary’s travels to Bethlehem in accordance with the Roman census decree to the angel’s announcement to the shepherds. Luke records Jesus’s circumcision on the eighth day at the temple and the prophecies of Simeon and Anna. Twelve years worth of memories reside in this one chapter but Mary’s heart held far more. How must her knowing have changed from the time Gabriel announced God’s plan to send His Son? The wedding at Cana, outside the crowded house with His brothers seeking an audience with her Son, being embraced by John at the foot of the cross, after Jesus’s resurrection and ascension- how could one heart hold so much?
“The Lord Yahweh has equipped me with the anointed, skillful tongue of a teacher — to know how to speak a timely word to the weary.
Morning by morning, he awakens my heart.
He opens my ears to hear his voice, to be trained to teach.”
Isaiah 50:4 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/isa.50.4.TPT
When we read Isaiah’s prophetic words this side of the cross, we see Jesus, the suffering servant, our Teacher, steadfastly determined to do the will of the Father. Since we are meant to become in every way like Him who saved us, we look to His life and His Word for direction. (Romans 8:29, II Corinthians 3:18, Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:10, I John 3:2, Ephesians 4:13) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.”
Proverbs 3:5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.3.5.NLT
When I hear Amelia singing a familiar song she’s heard during church or on the radio, I offer her lyrics that she may have missed or misunderstood. Sometimes she joins in and sings along with me. Other times, she will hold up her little hands, palms forward, beckoning me to stop. “I was singing, Lolly,” she explains as if I should have known not to interrupt. I used to insist that she listen but I have learned that if I go about my business, she will come to me when she is ready to learn.
“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
Proverbs 1:7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.1.7.NLT
“And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children?
He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you.
For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children.
Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?
If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.
Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how.
But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.
No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful!
But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”
Hebrews 12:5-11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.12.5-11.NLT
“The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.
The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.
For the honor of your name, O Lord, forgive my many, many sins.
Who are those who fear the Lord?
He will show them the path they should choose.”
Psalms 25:8-12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.25.8-12.NLT
We want to know God’s will. We want to make the right decision, to choose the best path forward. “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”
Proverbs 16:25 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/pro.16.25.NIV
“Who among you has true fear and reverence of Yahweh?
Who of you listens to the voice of his servant?
Are any of you groping in the dark without light?
Trust in the faithful name of Yahweh and rely on your God.
But if you presume to light your own torch, you are playing with fire.
So go ahead, walk in the light of your own fires and the sparks you have kindled.
But I can promise you this: it will take you down into torment!”
Isaiah 50:10-11 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/isa.50.11.TPT
“But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught.
You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.
You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:14-17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.3.14-17.NLT
“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control.
Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.
So you must live as God’s obedient children.
Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires.
You didn’t know any better then.
But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.
For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites.
He will judge or reward you according to what you do.
So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.”
For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors.
And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value.
It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.
God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.
Through Christ you have come to trust in God.
And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.
You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters.
Love each other deeply with all your heart.
For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end.
Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.”
1 Peter 1:13-23 NLT
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