She wrote me three times a year, and her letters were predictable. Each one included some exciting nugget she had learned recently in her daily Bible reading, some sin she was struggling with, and her continuing evangelistic efforts. Every year three letters. The last one arrived when she was 103.
On her 104th birthday several friends went to celebrate with her. She was ready with the same question for each of them. And the question was not, “What Bible verse have you memorized recently?” The question was, “What chapter of the Bible have you memorized recently?”. You can be sure that each friend left highly motivated to follow in her footsteps.
“Spiritual retirement” was never part of her vocabulary or lifestyle. Clearly she had no intention of rotting. She had absolutely no intention of being anything else but a lifelong learner. After all if God has nothing more to teach you, why aren’t you dead?
When Solomon challenges us in Proverbs 2:4 to seek wisdom “as silver and search for her as for hidden treasure”, he is giving us a lifelong challenge to pick up our shovel, start digging in the Bible, and never stop.
What an inspiration that elderly lady was to her church to seek & serve her savior ALL her life. What kind of example are you setting? Time to pick up your shovel and start digging?What chapter will you memorize this year? Whom are you trying to reach for Christ?