The story is told of an old man who
lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky
with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was
up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from
his old worn-out Bible.
His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to
imitate him in any way he could. One day the
grandson asked,
"Papa, I try to read the Bible
just like you but I don't understand it, and
what I do understand I forget as soon as I close
the book. What good does reading the Bible do?"
The Grandfather quietly turned from
putting coal in the stove and said, "Take this coal
basket down to the river and bring back a basket of
water." The boy did as he was told, even though all
the water leaked out before he could get back to the
house.
The grandfather laughed and said, "You will have to
move a little faster next time," and sent him back
to the river with the basket to try again.
This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket
was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he
told his grandfather that it was "impossible to
carry water in a basket," and he went to get a
bucket instead. The old man said, "I don't want a
bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can
do this. You're just not trying hard enough," and he
went out the door to watch the boy try again. At
this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he
wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran
as fast as he could, the water would leak out before
he got far at all. The boy scooped the water and ran
hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket
was again empty.
Out of breath, he said, "See Papa, it's useless!"
"So you think it is useless?" The old man said,
"Look at the basket." The boy looked at the basket
and for the first time he realized that the basket
looked different. Instead of a dirty old coal
basket, it was clean.
"Son, that's what happens when
you read the Bible. You might not understand or
remember everything, but when you read it, it
will change you from the inside out.
That is the work of God in our
lives.
To change us from the inside out and to slowly
transform us into the image
of His son.
Take time to read a portion of God's word each day.
Pray that He will use it to turn your heart and mind
to Him.
"How can
a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word."
Psalm
119:9
"...that He
might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of
water by the word..."
Ephesians 5:25-27
