It's Never Too Late

He who gives attention to the Word will find good.  Blessed is he who trusts in the Lord" Proverbs 16:20

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I was 14-years-old before I realized there were other things to do on Sunday than attend church.  Sunday School, Youth Fellowship, visit relatives or take a long walk with my dog.

In Sunday School, my teachers were striving to introduce me to God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  Youth Fellowship and Christian Summer camps provided new experiences and insights toward leading a Christian life.  From the beginning, these adults were trying to guide me toward this journey of faith and arm me with lessons I could take with me.  In college, two classes in religion were required for graduation.  We dubbed them "Praying 101" and "Advanced Praying"! The professors were inspiring and knowledgeable, and to this day I am grateful for what I learned.  "All your sons will be taught by the Lord and great will be the peace of your children." Isaiah 54:3

Over the years, I have taught Sunday school, spent 7 years in Bible Study Fellowship, and am currently attending Bookmarks class and a Koinonia group.  But the most amazing thing to me is that when I study the Bible, I discover uplifting facts abut my Lord and Savior; I realize that I need to read the Old Testament to understand the New Testament.  So it's never too late to start, restart, or continue to learn.



A good friend of mine started Bible study five years ago.  He was active in church but hesitant to be a "student" of the Bible.  He is amazed and surprised at what he finds in the great Book.  He is a testament to my message that it's never too late.  At St. Mark, we offer many classes and opportunities.  One way to open the Bible is to come a few minutes early to church, open a pew Bible and read the verses connected to the sermon.

The season of Lent is a perfect time to think about what Easter is all about and why it is truly the most important time for all of us.  "These commandments that I gave you today are to be on your hearts, impress them on your children; talk about them when you sit at home, and when you walk along the road when you like down and when you get up."  Deuteronomy 6: 6&7.  I say, to do all of this, we have to open the Bible to study and learn.

Dale Birkbeck, 2005