"Why?" Ever had a child ask you that question before? How easy was the answer? I know that I have been asked that question on a number of occasions, and the answer is usually not all that easy to give.
It seems that the simple questions can often be the most difficult to answer. We long for a question with a simple answer, but when it comes to life matters, it seems that even the most simple question begs for an answer that often times calls for a lot of thought and reflection.
When he was putting together his small instruction book for families regarding the Christian faith, Martin Luther used another one of these seemingly simple questions. What does this mean, or as it can more literally be translated, what is this? He asks it about each of the commandments that God gave to Moses, and his answers, while pretty short, contain a depth that no human can ever fully dive into.
The same can be said for each of the categories in which he asks that question. Let's face it. When someone asks us "What does this mean," the answer usually isn't going to be really easy to give. It will take deep reflection into life, into the meaning of life, and into what God looks for as He created and designed our lives, and a discovery of what He wills for our lives.
"What does this mean?" Even though I have been trained in theology and in the study of the Bible, there are still times when I have to admit that I simply cannot know what exactly something means, especially when it relates to life. Sure, there are usually a few fairly obvious meanings, but as I spend time thinking about the question and whatever the topic is on which the question is asked, I have to admit that I simply do not know everything.
That's why I often cringe when someone comes across as though they know all the answers. To me, when they do that, it seems like they just haven't given the question enough thought. While there are always timeless, ageless facets of the truth in every situation where the question applies, quite often there are situational matters that need to be accounted for.
In the end, I guess I'm simply saying, when one of these seemingly simple questions is asked, just remember that the answer is rarely as simple or obvious as it may seem. What does this mean? It means we need to think about it deeply, pray about it, and see what God has to say about it.
It seems that the simple questions can often be the most difficult to answer. We long for a question with a simple answer, but when it comes to life matters, it seems that even the most simple question begs for an answer that often times calls for a lot of thought and reflection.
When he was putting together his small instruction book for families regarding the Christian faith, Martin Luther used another one of these seemingly simple questions. What does this mean, or as it can more literally be translated, what is this? He asks it about each of the commandments that God gave to Moses, and his answers, while pretty short, contain a depth that no human can ever fully dive into.
The same can be said for each of the categories in which he asks that question. Let's face it. When someone asks us "What does this mean," the answer usually isn't going to be really easy to give. It will take deep reflection into life, into the meaning of life, and into what God looks for as He created and designed our lives, and a discovery of what He wills for our lives.
"What does this mean?" Even though I have been trained in theology and in the study of the Bible, there are still times when I have to admit that I simply cannot know what exactly something means, especially when it relates to life. Sure, there are usually a few fairly obvious meanings, but as I spend time thinking about the question and whatever the topic is on which the question is asked, I have to admit that I simply do not know everything.
That's why I often cringe when someone comes across as though they know all the answers. To me, when they do that, it seems like they just haven't given the question enough thought. While there are always timeless, ageless facets of the truth in every situation where the question applies, quite often there are situational matters that need to be accounted for.
In the end, I guess I'm simply saying, when one of these seemingly simple questions is asked, just remember that the answer is rarely as simple or obvious as it may seem. What does this mean? It means we need to think about it deeply, pray about it, and see what God has to say about it.
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