Question Marks or Exclamation Marks

The one thing about little children is that they seem to have an insatiable desire to learn, causing them to continually ask questions. With disarming honesty and relentless enthusiasm our two oldest (2 and 3 years old) frequently send me and my wife a barrage of questions about just anything and everything. What does this mean, Mommy? What is that, Papa? And, of course, the all-time favourite: Why?

When I just came to the Lord a good friend gave me some precious advice. He said, “Peter, make sure that more of your sentences end with a question mark than an exclamation mark”. When you start to think that you `know it all`, you will sound like this - ! However, when you realise that you are merely on the way, it will be more like this - ?

Learning is meant to be a life-long experience. If we ever feel like we have arrived and have it all together, we become stagnant in the learning process. It`s interesting to note that Jesus didn`t pick the religious experts of the day to become his close band of followers. Instead He chose some fairly ordinary people. Perhaps the ordinary people were more suitable to become trained up by Him than those who felt they were the experts in the things of God.

Being eager to learn, as little children are, doesn`t mean we need to continually be reviewing the things we already know to be true. It`s important to have a foundation of truth to build our lives upon. But one common trap that we can easily get into is the belief that, after walking with the Lord for a certain amount of time, we `have arrived`, `know it all` or `always have it together.` Wherever this inner belief comes from, it certainly doesn`t come from the Lord. He delights in teaching us and He definitely doesn`t expect us to ever `have it all sorted out`. He loves us to come to Him, and ask, “Lord, what about this?” Or, “Lord, I don`t understand that. Could You help me please?”
Jesus emphatically told His disciples to become like little children. I think part of this is having the desire to learn, ask lots of questions, and trust God for answers. What do you think?

Prayer: Father in heaven, Thank You for the ability You have given me to learn, and for Your desire to teach me. I ask you to forgive me for the times when I have acted as though I knew more than I really did. I now ask You to rekindle my desire to learn. Please help me to come to You with my questions, as a child would do. In Jesus` name. Amen.