What I learned From An Eighty Year Old Man

Image Courtesty of geww/freedigitalphotos.net

Pastor Z stood behind the pew at the front of the class, looking at each one of us with a seriousness in his eyes.

He told us a story of being in the military, and how he would kneel down on his bed every morning to read his Bible and pray. The other men poked fun at him, and one day he lost his temper and started to storm out. Then just as he got to the door, he heard the Holy Spirit say something to him. I wish I could remember what it was.

But I do remember what Pastor Z said next. Because of what the Holy Spirit said to him,  instead of storming out, he turned around and faced the men in the barracks. “I am a Christian, and in order to be a good one, I need to read my Bible! And I’m going to read my Bible every day, no matter how much you scoff.”

And every morning, he read his Bible. The men didn’t bother him anymore.

I knew that I wanted to be like Pastor Z. I want to read my Bible and seek the Lord all the days of my life, into old age. I don’t ever want to look at the wonderful Word of God and think I know everything that’s in there, because every time I read it, the Lord shows me something new.  We are never ever going to know it all while on this earth. But we can keep seeking the Lord and walking in his presence every day.

That’s what I learned from an eighty year old man.