Tikimt 20 — October 30

Abba John the Short, Who Learned to Obey

Long ago in Egypt there lived a boy named John. People later called him John the Short. His family was not rich, but they loved God and did many kind things, and that made them rich in the very best way.

When John was a young man, he went out to a quiet desert called Scete, where people lived together just to pray. He asked a wise old monk named Abba Bamoy if he could stay and learn. Abba Bamoy wanted to see if John truly meant it, so he warned him how hard the life would be. But John begged to stay. Then an angel told Abba Bamoy that John would one day become a treasure for God, and so John became a monk.

Abba Bamoy taught John to obey with a kind heart. One day he gave John a dry, dead stick and said, "Plant this and water it every day." The water was far, far away, but John obeyed and watered the stick every single day. After three years, that dead stick grew into a big tree full of fruit. The old monk shared the fruit and called it "the fruit of obedience," and everyone praised God.

John took care of Abba Bamoy for many years when the old monk was sick. He was always patient and gentle. Later John became a leader of his church, and a voice from heaven called out that he was worthy.

When John grew old, God sent holy friends and angels to bring him home. The angels carried him up to heaven, singing for joy.

Take ye and eat of the fruit of obedience and humility.— Abba Bamoy

The Three Holy Children and the Shining Lamps

God gave Abba John a special gift. A kind church leader named Abba Theophilus built a new church far away in a city called Alexandria. He wanted to honor three brave young men from the Bible, often called the Three Holy Children. They had once trusted God so much that He kept them safe even inside a fiery furnace.

Abba Theophilus asked John to travel to a faraway city to visit them. So God lifted John on a cloud and carried him swiftly through the sky! When John reached the resting place of the Three Holy Children, he bowed and asked for their blessing, and he heard a gentle voice say, "The God of Israel has blessed you."

The Three Holy Children told John what to do. On the night the new church was finished, everyone should hang up lamps and gather inside, and then God would show His power. And He did. At midnight all the lamps lit up by themselves, the whole church filled with light, and a sweet smell drifted through the room. Everyone knew God was near, and they were full of joy.

The God of Israel has blessed you.

Elisha the Prophet, Who Made the Water Sweet

On this day we also remember Elisha the prophet. God chose him to carry His messages to the people. Elisha loved God, and he told God's people about good things that would happen one day.

Long before Jesus was born, Elisha told everyone that God Himself would one day come down to the earth and walk with people. That promise came true when Jesus came! Elisha lived a good and faithful life, and then he died in peace and was buried in his own land.

The Bible tells two happy stories about Elisha. Once, some water was bitter and not good to drink. Elisha asked God to help, and God made the water sweet and clean. Another time, a man dropped a heavy iron axe into a deep river and was very sad. Elisha threw a small piece of wood into the water, and the heavy axe floated right back up to the top. These two stories show how much God cares about even our small troubles.

God shall come down upon the earth and shall walk with men.— Elisha the prophet