YOU HAVE KNOWN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES FROM CHILDHOOD. 2 Tim.

Pharoah described Joseph in glowing terms, ‘Can we find such a man as this, one in whom is the Spirit of God? (Genesis 41:38) Joseph’s dear father had taught him from infancy God’s eternal truths. Sold into slavery as a teenager; falsely accused by a designing Egyptian woman; forgotten in prison; yet chosen to be deliverer to Egypt , Israel and the nations of the world - a type of our Lord Jesus as Saviour. Jacob had diligently taught his boy, ‘How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed to your word. (Psalm 119:9) Oh, early training of a child is valuable.

Moses did also. ‘When she (Moses’ mother) could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes, daubed it with asphalt and pitch ( the atonement or covering ) put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. ’ Exodus 2:3) ’Then Miriam, his sister, said to Pharoah’s daughter, shall I go and call a nurse from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?’ ’Go’. So ,’She called the child’s mother,’ who fed her babe, prayed over him and taught him the milk of God’s word. Humorous, yet amazing! The eternal God contrived this.

So did Joshua. The Bible always introduces him as ‘the son of NUN, an amazing description of the powerful influence of a father on this mighty man of God. Every time the bible speaks of Joshua,, so it specifies the name of the father , who taught him the things of God. Could God write the same of you and your son or daughter?

Samuel did also! ( The child Samuel ( heard of God ) grew in stature, and in favour with the Lord and men.’ (1 Samuel 2:26 ) Hannah yearned and prayed for this child. She crooned God’s love songs to her sweet baby, nurturing him in eternal truth. ‘Then the boy (note that ) Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. ’ Hannah had taught him the precious stories of the living God.

David did also! Saul admonished David, ‘ Saying ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.‘ ( 1 Samuel 17: 33 ) ’the Lord delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, HE will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’ (37 )

Jesse instilled quiet confidence in David’s God.

SO DID THE BOY KING, Joash! ’He was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah ( gazelle )

He had been well taught for ’Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoida ( Jehovah knows ) the priest.’ ( 2 chronicles 24:1,2 ) He was mothered well, breast-fed and dosed with the milk of God’s word ; and mentored by God’s special servant. Your children deserve the same well-balanced nutrition.

SO DID JOSIAH. ‘He was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty one years in Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord , and walked in the ways of David his father; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.’ And in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year, he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places. ( 2 Chronicles 34:1-3 )

Grandfather David profoundly fashioned this teachable boy, while a regent guided him as a sensitive, young man. We see the power of scripture in noble lives.

SO DID THE BOY JESUS. ‘they found HIM in the temple, both listening to them , and asking them questions. All who heard HIM were astonished at his understanding and answers. When they saw HIM , they were amazed: and His mother said to Him, ’Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have sought you anxiously.’

Then the perceptive response, ’ ’Why is it you have sought Me? Do you not know that I must be about My Father’s business? ’ (Luke 2:46-49) an undeniable mystery! Of course, He was infinitely superior to each of the others in this study. While Mary and Joseph taught HIM during His boyhood, HE was the Son of the living God, and ‘all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge were in HIM.‘

AND SO WITH TIMOTHY, the boy. Paul wrote, ’ I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.’ ( 2 Timothy 1:5) Oh, the impact of godly women of two generations who had moulded the faith of Christ’s young soldier, so precious to the ageing apostle Paul. How is your faith, Mother?

AND WITH TIMOTHY THE PASTOR AND ELDER. Paul wrote, ’Continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.’ An obvious reminder of a godly mother and grandmother. He went on, ’’You have known the holy scriptures from childhood, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ( 3;15)

Strengthening his stand, Paul continued, ’All Scripture is given by inspiration ( or inbreathing ) of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction , for instruction in righteousness; for the clear purpose, ’That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

We have known HIM as Saviour and Friend from earliest days. My dear wife, Gwenda, was attracted to our Lord Jesus as a child by her saintly mother and father, a godly pastor. My mother taught me to simply trust the Son of God, while my grandparents urged me to surrender to the sinner’s Friend as a little boy. I served my Lord in medicine and bible teaching, although they presumed I would preach the gospel. We were nurtured in prayer.

Begin now so that you can joyfully say of your children or grandchildren,

YOU HAVE KNOWN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD.