The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his086/explain.lzh/EXPLAIN.TXT

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DEV:Take time to Explain  by Wolf Gerhardt

   When your children ask..., "What are these stones?" then you shall
let your children know. Joshua 4:21

   On three seperate occasions, God told parents in Israel how to
answer the serious questions of their sons and daughters (see Exodus
13:14, Deut.6:20, and Joshua 4:6, 21). This would indicate that God
wants us to take the time to answer our children when they ask about
spiritual matters. How we respond can either greatly help or terribly
dis- courage them.

   Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy told of an aunt who hurt him deeply
when she didn't take time to answer some questions that were troubling
him. She stirred his emotions by telling him about Jesus' crucifixion,
but when he cried out, "Auntie, why did they torture Him?" she said
simply,"They were wicked." "But wasn't He God?" Tolstoy asked. Instead
of explaining that Jesus was indeed God, that He became a man so He
could die for our sins, she said, "Be still -it is 9 o'clock!" When he
persisted, she retorted,"Be quiet, I say, I'm going to the dining room
to have tea." This left young Tolstoy greatly agitated. Commenting on
this scene, Calvin Miller said, "Tolstoy found it incomprehensible that
Christ had been brutalized and his aunt was not interested enough to
stay a little past tea time and talk about it."

   Do we allow our own interests - a television program, a sporting
event, a hobby - to keep us from taking time to listen, admonish and
instruct our children, or anyone who may ask us about God? If we pause
long enough to explain His truth, He will use it to change lives. -H.V.L

   Lord, teach me how to love and live That I may cheer each heart, And
to my fellowman in need Some blessing rich impart.

   DO ALL THE GOOD YOU CAN, IN ALL THE WAYS YOU CAN, FOR ALL THE PEOPLE
YOU CAN, WHILE YOU CAN...

   by Wolf Gerhardt.