And He (Jesus) took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:16

When I was in school, I was blessed to have many brilliant instructors.

There was one prof who stood out. Now, he wasn't an absent-minded professor. On the contrary, he was incredibly smart. It's just that we were hardly on the same level of knowledge that he was. Indeed, we often felt like he was a genius and we were ... well, we weren't.

Not being able to understand their professor left a number of my classmates a little bit bitter. Indeed, some of us were secretly quite pleased when we overheard one of his colleagues talking to him and offering the most gentle of reprimands.

The conversation, according to my faulty and flawed memory, went something like this: "That was a great lecture, professor, but don't you think it was a little over the students' heads?"

We all grinned when we heard that.

The smug smiles didn't last long when we heard the professor's reply: "I aim my lectures where their heads ought to be."

In recent years, I've heard a lot of criticism directed against God and the church. We've all been told how

• our doctrines are too old and out of date;
• they don't reach people the way they should;
• we need to be more realistic.

Although I can claim no direct revelation from the Lord, I can almost hear the Lord echo the words of my professor: "I aim My love where the people's hearts ought to be."

In short, God, our Creator and Redeemer, is not going to cheapen His message of love. Once the Son of God came down to earth and talked to us in a way that made it possible for the youngest of children to understand -- and for the wisest of adults to admire.

Once the Heavenly Father sacrificed His Son so that all who believe on Him might be saved.

I'm convinced He's not going to change that message now. He's not going to rewrite the plan of salvation because it doesn't meet with the approval of those who think they can improve on what He has done.

Which is why, although it is incredibly belated, I would invite you to join me in thanking the Lord -- and that professor -- for giving us what we needed, not what we might want.


From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"



THE PRAYER: Thank You, Heavenly Father, for making us Your children. Help us to appreciate all You have done for Your undeserving and unthankful children. Grant us grace to value and share Your grace with others. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 7-8    John 7:28-53

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