The Same Old Thing

Read Psalm 119:127-135

Max watched as his sister Miranda put on her coat, ready to leave for the children’s night at their church. “Too bad you have a bad cold and can’t come, too,” said Miranda.

Max shrugged. “Oh, well,” he said, “Dr. Walters is just going to talk about Noah. It’s the same old thing.”

“God’s Word is never just the ‘same old thing,’” Mom reminded him as she and Miranda left.

It is the same old thing, Max thought. I’m glad I don’t have to go.

Max was looking through some old baseball magazines when Mom and Miranda came home. “What should we have for supper?” asked Mom.

“Pizza!” said Max promptly.

“Again?” asked Mom.

“Sure,” replied Max. “I never get tired of pizza.”

As they ate, Miranda told Max how much she had liked the meeting that night. Max wasn’t impressed. “I already know all about Noah,” he told her. “Ask me anything.”

“How big was the ark compared to a football field?” asked Miranda. “And how much food did Noah have to gather?”

“Well . . .” Max didn’t know the answers.

“You say the story of Noah is the ‘same old thing,’ but those year-old baseball magazines still interest you,” Dad commented.

“And you never get tired of pizza,” said Mom.

“How come you’re ganging up on me?” protested Max.

Dad smiled. “We just don’t want you to think of the Bible as being the ‘same old thing,’” he said. “There’s always more to learn, even from familiar stories.”

Max thought about it, and Miranda grinned at him. “You would have liked Dr. Walters,” she said. “We bought a tape!”

“Thanks,” said Max. “I’ll listen. I promise.”

How about you?

Do you complain about hearing the “same old thing” in church? Do you use it as an excuse not to learn about the Lord? No matter how many times you’ve heard a lesson, there is still more you can learn.

Memorize:

“The grass withers, and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8