Sunday School Teacher

An evangelist was visiting a lady who had been a Sunday School teacher for fifty years. She had been attending his prophecy seminar. Her piety stood out. Her demeanor was saintly, and her walk with Christ quite obvious.

As the pastor became acquainted with her, he discovered her ministry and burden. “How do you feel about what you have been hearing?” He asked. “Oh,” she said, “it is wonderful to see how easy it is to understand the book of Revelation.”

“Have you learned anything new?” questioned the visiting preacher. “Oh yes,” she replied.

“How do you feel about the Ten Commandments?” “Well,” she responded, “I believe that any true Christian should obey all of them.”

“Then what about the Fourth Commandment? Do you believe it should be kept by Christians today?” “Oh yes,” she answered.

“Then why are you still observing Sunday?” the speaker inquired. “Well, you see,” she said, “I have been teaching the children in Sunday School the truth about God’s holy day.

But I have met some resistance from parents who do not want me to teach their children about the Sabbath. Some have already removed their children from my class and will not allow them to return. I can’t understand why people choose to avoid knowing what Jesus wants to reveal to them. It makes me grieve over the determined effort to shut out the light that heaven bestows.”

Then the preacher asked a troubling question. “Have you ever thought that you were doing your children more harm than good?” “What do you mean?” the surprised woman questioned.

“Jesus said in His Word, ‘For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified’ (Romans 2:13). The apostle James wrote, ‘But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves’ (James 1:22).

By your teaching them the truth and not practicing it, you are teaching the children by your example that it is not important to obey the Lord. You can know the Lord’s will, but you do not have to comply with it.

Is this the lesson you want to teach your children?” “Oh no!” she exclaimed, “I did not realize I was doing that.”

“Then why not step out in faith and decide not only to be a hearer, but a doer of the Word of God?” requested the preacher. “Alright,” she said.

So that night she entered the watery grave of baptism and publicly declared herself among those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.