A Heart Filled with Treasure

It is that time of year again, time for Bible Drill!  The culmination of 8 long months of pouring over 30 different passages, memorizing them, and then unbelievably learning how to find them in only 8 seconds.  That is what my daughter and her 2 friends (Aubrey and Jessica) have been doing since August of last year.  Kayleigh and her friends have participated in the children's Bible drill at church for the last 3 years (4 for their friend Jessica).  This year they wanted to advance to youth, so I dove right in there with them, along with Jessica's mom, Stacy, to learn the scriptures and help them practice every Sunday evening for an hour and the occasional Saturday afternoon or Friday evening sleep over just to get some extra practice time in.

The students have to find random books of the Bible and then name the book preceding and the book after the book called.  They also have to locate random scriptures called out (they do not know which ones will be called) in 8 seconds.   But the most amazing thing of all is that they can answer some pretty deep theological questions with scripture such as, "What does Jesus require of me?"  Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24 , "How can I minister to others?"  Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10 and "Who did Christ Jesus come to save?" This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”– and I am the worst of them. 1 Timothy 1:15.  They know 7 other passages answering other questions as well.  The have to know Doctrinal verses on Stewardship 1 Corinthians 16:2, Evangelism and Missions, Roman's 10:15, The Church, Hebrews 2:12, and 7 other Doctrinal subjects.   There are also 10 Identifying passages, some 2-3 verses each that they must memorize and find as well.  Frankly, I am in awe of what these girls have learned and readily admit that I could not locate these passages in 8 seconds in the privacy of my home, much less on stage in front of an entire congregation of people.

So please forgive me for bragging about these girls, but they really are pretty special.  They have competed at church, moved on to the associational drill, competed at the regional level, and now two of them will be competing in state drill next Saturday.  I am so very proud of these young ladies and can truthfully say that the last 8 months have been the best investment of my time that I could ever make.  When I think of one of my favorite verses from Bible drill in years past, I think about these girls:

All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.  
2 Timothy 3:16-17

So thank you, Jessica, Aubrey, and my sweet Kayleigh for giving your all to God and treasuring His Word in your hearts.  May His Word be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path.