“Do you have cancer?”
This was the question I heard a 5-year-old boy ask a balding gentleman, as I went into the aftercare building to pick up my son.
The adult responded with a chuckle and said, “No, I’ve just lost all my hair.”
My initial internal response was “what has this child seen or heard to make them instantly think bald equals cancer?”
My next response was “Thank you, Jesus, for the innocent questions of our little ones.”
Children have very few inhibitions when it comes to questioning the world around them. They ask simply because they need understanding. They aren’t intimidated by politically correct wording or the emotions that questions may bring up.
Jesus asked a lot of questions too. His weren’t always simple or designed for His own understanding. Most of His questions were crafted to get His followers thinking about God’s promises, about salvation, and about deliverance. One of my favorite questions Jesus asked the disciples is “Who do you say I am?”
In several books of the Gospel, we read that Peter responds, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus could have easily said, “I am the Christ.” Instead, He challenged the disciples to answer the questions of their own heart.
Jesus taught using a questioning method of presentation. It creates a learning atmosphere where the disciples (and subsequently us) are able to interpret and deliver our own answers to questions. This often lends itself to a longer retention of information…and a stronger belief in the answers that we declare ourselves.
Like small children asking strangers about lost hair and cancer treatments, we as Christians must ask about and interpret the world around us. Lucky for us, if we’re in the Word, we’ll find answers!
What questions are on your mind this week? Come to the Porch and share!
~Emily
Iron Porch 