Drippings from the Honeycomb
More to be desired are [the rules of the Lord] than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:10)
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The story of Balaam and the Donkey is a famous Bible story.
In Numbers 22 a false prophet named Balaam is set on cursing God’s people even though God has told him not too. His heart is so hard that the magician cannot even see the angel blocking his path, although his donkey can. It is a hilarious story! When I was a teenager my pastor invited me to a preaching seminar held at seminary. The guest speaker was an Irish preacher, and using some Irish wit as perhaps only the Irish can, he commented on this story. He said, “whether preacher or parishioner, we’ll all listen to preaching. A lesson we can learn from Balaam is that if God can speak through an ass, he can speak through you and I. So when you listen to preaching sit down, shut up and listen.’ I wouldn’t have phrased it that way but he was essentially saying that if the preacher be faithful and we have patience to listen, we will hear from the Lord. I have been blessed by applying his wisdom through the years. It is not wrong to desire fine preaching, however, it is more important that the preacher be faithful. If we listen to faithful preaching we will be blessed.
I was blessed to give at New Life Camp for another round of junior campfire talks. This year was bee themed. We looked at the sting of death (1 Cor 15) and tasting and seeing that the LORD Is good (Ps 34:8).
Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation. (Joel 1:3)
While speaking primarily to parents, every generation the church faces extinction and the Great Commission calls us to share the Good News with all ages, including children. While a whole family focus is important in evangelism, statistically 64% of Christians become a Christian before they are 18. God has been incredibly gracious to allow me to be involved in children’s (and youth) ministries through the years.
Apart from immense gratitude, what have I learned to value about this ministry?:
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