Growing up, I learned so many things from my mom. One thing in particular, she taught us from a young age and repeated time and time again as we grew up. “If you can read, you can do anything because you can follow directions”, or sometimes just, “if you can read, then you can follow directions”.
As a young child I knew she was encouraging us to learn how to read because it was such an important skill to have. When I was in middle school, it applied more to doing my homework or following recipes as I learned how to cook and bake. By the time I was in high school and college, I didn’t hear the phrase as much anymore, but it still applied to learning new skills(even though YouTube became my go to for this). While it may not be books, I can’t tell you how often I have looked for blog posts or how-to’s on things ranging from new recipes to try, hairstyles to attempt, kids craft ideas, or DIY projects relating to house remodeling and repairs. Books may not be my main source of reading material anymore, but the lesson still applies.
“If you can read, you can do anything because you can follow directions.”
To be honest, I haven’t thought of those words much lately, but as I was teaching Kidmo this past week, I couldn’t get them out of my head. In our lesson we talked about knowing God and knowing the Bible. We discussed how if we want to know God we have to spend time with Him and one way to do that is by reading the Bible. However, we also discussed what it means to love God and read from Psalm, John and Matthew.
“If you love me, keep my commands.” John 14:15-17
“My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart” Proverbs 3:1
“My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.” Proverbs 7:1
“If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” John 15:10
“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” John 14:23-24
One of our main points was that if we wanted to KNOW God, we need to KNOW the Bible, and if we want to KNOW the Bible, we have to spend time reading it. As we went through our lesson, and as I reflected on it later, I kept thinking about my mom’s words, “If you can read.. you can follow directions”. How much simpler could it be?
I know the concept doesn’t fully encompass what being a believer should look like, but how much easier would it be to KNOW God if we just read the Bible? How much easier to follow His directions, by having read them and knowing them? And how much simpler to be able to do ANYTHING because we would be strengthening our knowledge and relationship with God by spending time in is word?
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
How much more could we bring glory to God if we simply obeyed His commands?
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39
How much more could we spread His love if we just followed directions?
It is such a simple thing to do, yet somehow we make it so difficult. All we have to do is start by reading. Read. Learn. Follow directions.
You can do anything.
Nayalya Ables
Children’s Director