From My R&R Writing

As he often was, Christopher was called forward to teach the children a Bible lesson. He had chosen to show how scripture in the Old Testament was carried forward to the New Testament.

“Is everyone settled?” he asked as the children finished taking their places on the steps to the altar. “Okay, then. Today’s scripture comes from both the Old Testament and the New Testament.”

A hand went up.

“Yes,” Christopher said, calling on him.

“The Old Testament is at the front of the Bible. Right?”

“You are correct.”

“Aren’t we supposed to study the part in the back of the Bible?”

“Good question, and it needs to be answered. Actually, we are supposed to study the entire Bible. The Old Testament begins when Our Heavenly Father created heaven and earth and makes its way through history, tracing the family of Abraham and David, leading up to the time of Jesus’ birth. Also, in those books of the Bible, we receive the Ten Commandments and other guidance for how to live in ways that please Our Heavenly Father. So, the Old Testament is very important. Does that answer your question?”

The child nodded.

“Okay, then, going on to the scriptures, hear these words from the Book of Matthew, chapter five, verses 43 and 44:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you . . .”

“It sounds like one of the Ten Commandments, ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself,” a girl of about ten years old said.

“Yes. That is where it originates, in the Ten Commandments,” Christopher said. “Okay, then. So, let’s take it a step further by asking just who our neighbors are. Surely, the people next door and across the street are our neighbors, but who else?”

“Everyone we see every day?” someone asked.

“Yes.”

“Suppose he’s a murderer. How can we love him?” someone else asked.

“Any ideas?” Christopher asked. When no one had an answer, he explained, “We love the person who is one of God’s children, even when we disapprove of the things he does. Let’s take a look at our lives. Let’s say we have a baby sister, who grabs whatever she sees, simply because babies grab things. You don’t like it when she grabs your things, but you still love her, don’t you?”

“Sure! Leslie’s my sister!” someone piped up.

“Exactly! How does this relate to how God feels about us?”

“He loves us even when he doesn’t like what we do?” someone asked.

“That’s right! He points out to us the error of our ways through our conscience, then forgives us when we say ‘I’m sorry’ and make an honest effort to do better.”

“He sounds like my dad!” someone piped up.

“Yes! He is Our Father in heaven.”

“Our Super Dad?” someone asked.

“That’s one way of putting it, but let’s simply say that He is the Lord God over all. Instead of having a few children, like earthly parents do, He has the whole world full of children of all ages, from babies to old folks.”

“That’s neat!”