The Bible and the Coal Basket

The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of
eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up 
early
sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible. His
grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he
could.

One day the grandson asked, "Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you 
but
I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close
the book. What good does reading the Bible do?" The Grandfather quietly
turned from putting coal in the stove and said, "Take this coal basket down
to the river and bring back a basket of water."

The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he
could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You will
have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river 
with
the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the 
basket
was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather
that it was "impossible to carry water in a basket," and he went to get a
bucket instead. The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a
basket of water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard enough," and
he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his
grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak
out before he got far at all. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but
when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath,
he said, "See Papa, it's useless!"

"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket." The
boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket
looked different. Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it was clean.

"Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand
or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the
inside out.

That is the work of God in our lives - to change us from the inside out and
to slowly transform us into the image of His son.

Take time to read a portion of God's word each day.

Thought for Today: God's Love is like the ocean, you can see its beginnings
but not its end. 

Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.