Tuesday 6/10/14
My family and I had a refreshing and uplifting, but surprising, experience this past weekend. We attended a high school graduation ceremony and expected to see and hear what has been the case for the past several years, namely that there would be no mention of God whatsoever in the entire program since the school in question is in the public school system. Not so! Not only was there an opening prayer lifted up in the name of Christ, several times throughout the ceremony direct references were made about God. There was even a hymn sung by the school choir to close the ceremony.
For many years now, we have been saddened and slightly disheartened when attending public school functions because God has been totally left out. We should have known such things would eventually happen when prayer was no longer permitted in the public school system many years back. In the 18th Chapter of Luke, Jesus told His Disciples a parable about an unjust judge and a persistent woman who kept coming to him until at last he granted her the justice that she sought. Jesus reminded them that if a judge who does not believe in God can grant justice to the strong in faith, God will do that and more for His children. Nevertheless, he added these prophetic words: When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? There are many signs which indicate that Christ’s return is imminent; one of them is that faith in God is slowly disappearing, as we are reminded every time we attend public events. Here is another one: Jesus, speaking about the signs in the last days, said, Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of many will grow cold. (Matthew 24:12)
In spite of all that, Isn’t it great to know that there are still public school districts out there that are not ashamed to demonstrate their faith and love for Christ? Many of you are in situations where you may feel like you are the only one who still believes and serves God, much like Isaiah felt when Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him. The Lord revealed to him that there were still seven thousand people in Israel that still served Him. (The story is found in 1 Kings, Chapter 19) So take heart today my dear friends and family. We are not alone and if we stick together, the rest of our earthly journey will still be joyful.
Memory Verse for the week: (1 Peter 2:9) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
