Road trips are fun.  At least if you make them that way!  This week I drove several hours to speak in a youth rally.  Often I travel alone and have learned that quiet moments to reflect are helpful.  As much as possible I try to take my family or some member of the family with me.  It is not always as quiet, but it is definitely more memorable.

Grant, our eight year old, went with me on this particular trip.  The 24 hour trip was a very special time for the two of us.  He picked all the meals and basically set the agenda for conversation.  At some point during our drive he decided that we would play Bible trivia.  I started the questions and was encouraged to hear his answers.  (Maybe he has been listening after all!)

Then it was his turn.  And he loved every minute of it.  He took keen delight in trying to trip up his daddy with questions on the most obscure things in the Bible.  Yes, he succeeded.

Then the final exam came: tell something about every book of the Bible.  “This will be easy!  I’m a Bible teacher!”  And so I began.  I did pretty well through the Pentateuch, Books of History, and Poetical section of the Old Testament.  Now for the prophets…

For most of the prophetical books I was able to provide a basic answer.  Then came Zephaniah.

I have taught an overview of the Old Testament books many times.  But, Zephaniah?  I know he was a prophet.  I know how to spell his name.  I know…

OK. I don’t know as much as I should.

The game went on.  I got a passing grade on the test.  But the lesson was to come at the end of this test.

“Out of the mouth of babes.”  Grant said, “You did good, dad.  Except for Zephaniah.  You didn’t know much about it.  But that’s just because you haven’t studied it much.”

Truth hurts.

Ask me anything about Philippians!  (It is my favorite book.)  Quiz me on Hebrews; I just finished teaching a whole semester on it.  But, please don’t ask me about Zephaniah…at least not yet.

As we rode on in silence for a few minutes, I asked myself: Why haven’t I studied Zephaniah?  Maybe it is not “my book,” but it is part of HIS Book!  If all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable (2 Timothy 3:16), then no part of God’s Word should be ignored.  Including Zephaniah.

Perhaps for you it is not Zephaniah.  But is there any part of your Bible that the pages still stick together?  Any book you have breezed through all these years without really understanding God’s message to you in that place?  That is your “Zephaniah.”  Start there.

Knowledge is not the goal of Bible study.  Yet Bible knowledge is the foundation for true obedience.  We cannot apply what we have not studied.

Tonight I am beginning my adventure into that book, Zephaniah.  Not to do better at Bible trivia, though I’m sure it will help!  God has something for me there.

Walk your way through the Word of God.  Talk through it with someone.  Find an eight year old and let them quiz you!  Discover your “Zephaniah” and join me!  It may be one of the best Bible lessons you will ever learn.