This last week as I was driving home from a meeting, I turned into my neighborhood and found myself behind a school bus bringing home elementary school kids who all looked to be from six to nine years old. As each little boy or girl got off the bus with their heavy coats and backpacks, they all did the same thing: they ran to their front door like they were dashing for Olympic gold. I could only guess what was in their little minds.
Was there an afternoon snack awaiting them? Was there a TV show that was about to start at 3:30? Or could they just not wait to run into the arms of a mom or dad who would assure them they were safe after a hard day out in the tough old world? I decided to vote for the latter and let it remind me of something good we all need to do.
And then my mind rewound to 1968. I was seriously seeking Jesus, but there weren’t many new translations of the Bible. Most people still used the King James version. But the American Bible Society published something called Good News for Modern Man that became popular with students. It translated Galatians 3:24 like this: “the law was a school bus to bring us to Christ.” (If you look into it, you will find that wasn’t such a bad translation.)
Somehow, in the funny way a mind can work—the school bus, the little kids, their dashing to the houses, and my memory of Galatians 3—all led to the image of Christ meeting us at the door to throw his arms around us, to hold us and love us.
I smiled.
That may not be great exegesis, but it does describe something that is true.
Focus Scripture
John 14:23
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
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