Approved Workmen

2Timothy 2:15

15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Holy Spirit had been giving me this scripture over and over for the last 48hours and I had been waiting to see what He wanted me to do with it. When He brought to my remembrance a ministry for children I was once involved in at a former church called AWANA (Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed). The program is for children starting at age 2 - high school. The ministry does several things. It teaches leadership skills for both adults and children but its primary purpose is to teach children the Word of God using fun methods and rewarding them as such. It also taught them the value of working hard, saving for something valuable and responsibility. It really is its own ministry outside of Sunday school and a lot of fun. I was called a "listener" for the "Truth & Training" group which is for grades 3-6. This was again one of the backdrops that God used to set me up as Sunday school teacher. My job was to listen to the students when they were ready to be tested on their knowledge of the Word to see if they learned it. If they got their questions right I had to mark it and then they were to show their leader in the class. If they did not get it correct then I had to tell them to go back and study. But at no point could I urge them on or help them in the listening scenario. The children had to get it right for themselves. Each booklet contained life scenarios where the Word was to be learned and applied. With each booklet they completed they earned what is called AWANA bucks which they could use in the AWANA store once per quarter to buy fun games, posters, etc.

If children as young as age 2 could learn about the Bible and grow up understanding the Word of God and how to apply it to show themselves approved and have the Word in them, then it means adults can too. No age is too young or too old to understand the Word of God and show yourself approved to God and not be ashamed. But you have to want it. The children were excited because they had something to work towards. In adult life, the rewards are not only the crowns obtained in heaven, but Jesus also gives crowns in our present life too. The crowns are called blessings. Blessings can range from little to gigantic. Our Lord is no respecter of persons and will pour out blessings in His time frame. But the greatest blessings come with operating in obedience out of faith. This means that you are willing to mix faith as faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the Word of God and applying it to your life. It means you move from hearer to doer and learn it for yourself. Are you willing to be one of God's approved workmen?