Friday, March 27, 2015
You are probably wondering what the meaning of the word of today’s title is; you may even wonder what language it is. Well, let me tell you that many, many years ago I thought it was an English word but one whose meaning I did not know. Since they probably know the story behind it, I’m pretty sure that if any of my children read today’s blog, they’ll immediately know the word’s significance. Here’s the story: When I was a boy, we lived directly across the street from a Baptist church. The church is long gone but one of the sons of that church’s pastor is a dear friend and fellow minister and I know a handful of it’s members who are still living. Since back then the services in most neighborhood churches were open-door and window affairs, we knew all the words of the hymns and choruses they sang. The majority of the hymns were in Spanish but they did sing some in English from time to time. On the occasions when they did sing in English, I would take notice of the words when I was outside playing since my formal study of the English language was still at the beginners stage at the time. One particular lively little tune that they sang in English started with the words: “Oh when the saints “comachirí”, oh when the saints “comachirí.” I used to wonder “what in the world does the word comachirí mean, not realizing that it was not a word at all; what the hymn says of course is that “the saints go marching in."
There is an old adage in Spanish which says: “El sordo no oye pero compone.” which essentially means that a deaf person doesn’t hear too good but he makes up his own version of what he heard anyway. I was doing the same thing back then, making up a new word, one that will never appear in anybody’s dictionary. When I shared this story with an ex-postal employee many years ago, he said he experienced an almost identical thing. In his case, he lived next to a Pentecostal church and when he heard them singing the Spanish version of “When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder” ,(Cuando Allá Se Pase Lista) he thought they were saying “Cuando ya se pase el Easter.” (When Easter is past)
This situation is common in life as well and when it relates to the Bible, many hear the stories and the messages but since they make little effort to try to better understand their complete meaning, they proceed to fill in the blanks and make up their own version. I personally believe that was the main reason Jesus taught and preached in parables. He knew that those who were desirous of learning more would seek and find. That is why He said these words in His Sermon on the Mount: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (Matthew 7:7) This eternal truth and promise still applies; those who really want to know Christ and His Word better, will find it when they seek it. Are you in this group? I pray that you are because, when it pertains to Christ, the more we love Him, the better we want to know Him.
Memory verse for the week: (Luke 12:8) “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.”
