NOVEMBER 23, Psalm 27:11

“Mom, why do we have to go to church every Sunday?” Soon Tat asked at breakfast. “Lots of my friends don’t go.”

“Well, son,” Mother answered. “We go to be instructed from God’s Word, so please get ready. We’ll be leaving soon.” She sighed. This was not the first time Soon Tat had complained about going to church recently. When he was little, he loved to go to Sunday School and church, but as he grew older, sometimes he did not want to go.

That afternoon, the subject came up again. “My friends are playing basketball next Sunday morning,” said Soon Tat. “May I go?” “Soon Tat…” Dad answered this time. “…we’re going to church.” “I don’t see why we can’t just read the Bible for ourselves instead of having to sit in church all the time,” Soon Tat grumbled as he slowly started getting ready.

After dinner the next day, Soon Tat covered a table with newspapers.“I’m going to work on my new model car, it’s going to be some car when I get it put together! Just look at all those pieces. And aren’t these decals something!” he exclaimed. He began to work, but soon he looked up. “Can you help me with this, Dad?” he asked. “I can’t understand these instructions.”

Dad shrugged. “I don’t think you need me,” he said. “Just put the pieces together. It should turn out just fine.” “But, Dad!” Soon Tat was discouraged. “How do I know how the pieces go? I told you… I can’t understand the instructions!”

Dad got up and walked over to the table. “Soon Tat,” he said, “trying to put this model together without my help is a little like trying to live your Christian life without help from God’s servants. Lately you’ve not wanted to go to church, yet our pastor and Sunday School teachers help us understand God’s instructions on how we should live.”

Soon Tat thought about it. “I guess you’re right. There are lots of things in the Bible that I don’t understand by myself,” he admitted. “I’ll try to remember that. Now do you think you could help me with this model?” “Sure thing!” agreed Dad.

Thought: Do you enjoy going to church?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help me appreciate that it is a privilege to be able to go to church. It is great to read the Bible for myself, and I should do that. But You have provided godly men and women in church and Sunday School who can help me understand the Word, so please help me to learn from them. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.