The lessons learned in one room school houses more than 100 years ago were mainly readin, ritin, and rithmetic taught by the rule of the hickory stick. Its for sure that the hickory stick is no longer part of a childs learning experience and in many cases you are led to question if basic courses such as reading, writing and arithmetic are even being taught. I recently saw a report about a major college where many athletes who are unable to even compose a sentence are given an A in a class they are not required to attend. The problem is not limited to one school or to athletes who have a reputation of being dumb jocks. I cannot begin to count the number of times Ive encountered young people working cash registers who dont know how to count. Some of them struggle with knowing how to give a customer change even when numbers on the register indicate how much change is to be given. My math education in school stopped after I completed the first year of Algebra. But thankfully I learned how to add, subtract and count money. Not only has those basic lessons helped me in everyday transactions but they have also greatly benefitted me in my spiritual life. We understand that salvation is free even though it was of great cost to the One Who provides it. We are not saved as a result of subtracting bad deeds and adding good deeds. We cannot earn salvation by anything we do for God but by accepting what God has done for us. However, we must not forget what Jesus said about counting the cost to follow Him as His disciple. It is impossible to understand what it cost to follow Jesus without adding and subtracting. The subtracting part is easy to understand even though it is not always easy to do. The bible makes it clear that the thief is to stop stealing and the liar is to stop telling lies, etc. I was taught that in subtraction the minus sign means to take away. That is also true when it comes to serving God. There are many things that are to be subtracted or taken away. But on the positive side are things that should be added. The apostle Peter began his second epistle by saying that God has given (freely given) everything we need for life and godliness. He followed that statement by saying, For this very reason (the fact that God has freely given) you are to add to your faith, goodness and to goodness, knowledge and to knowledge, self-control and to self-control perseverance and to perseverance, godliness and to godliness, mutual affection and to mutual affection, love. I think that class should be called Christianity 1. You might be able to be given an A in some college course where you are not required to go to class. But it will not happen like that when it comes to your spiritual life. Make up your mind that you will not be one of those who receive a failing grade by not subtracted what needs to be subtracted and adding what needs to be added. Do your best to be on Gods honor roll. Be bless
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 11:46:55 +0000
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