A Serving Servant

By Brita Crouse

“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

1 Peter 4:11 (NIV)

Let’s play a game. Can you name this quote? (Hint: Think Disney Princess movie.)

“Life is so unnerving for a servant who’s not serving.”

This quote is taken from a song in a movie, made by a globally recognized company, and sung by a candlestick. [1] Not a very likely place to find Christian truth, but there it is.

I was originally made aware of this quote by a friend who is an avid fan of this particular movie. Then I listened to this song for myself and was struck by how much truth is woven throughout the lyrics. Life IS unnerving for a servant who isn’t serving!

There are times when we aren’t obedient to God. We have days when we aren’t living our lives as He intended. There are moments when our heart doesn’t desire God’s plan and purpose for us. We have seasons when our mind isn’t set on the thoughts of God, but on our own selfish desires and motivations. We have times when we don’t use our God-given gifts and times when we don’t recognize our gifts are from God. Life can seem uncertain, and even hopeless, during those times and it feels unnerving because we aren’t serving God!

Thankfully, we have examples of serving servants and are given the tools to live like that ourselves. We see it in the actions of God’s own Son, Jesus, during His time on earth. We see it in the lives of the disciples, even though they too had their “human moments.” There’s Moses, Mary, Esther, Joseph, and Paul; all with human faults, but all willing to serve their God and serve those around them. Their lives were rich and full, but certainly not easy.

Living the life of a serving servant is rewarding and fulfilling, but it does not come without challenges. Yet, God promises to give us the strength we need to live a servant’s life. He has given each of us unique gifts, and presents us with opportunities to serve using those special gifts. All our thoughts, actions, and words should reflect those of a serving servant because what good is a servant who doesn’t serve?

So, if you ever feel unnerved, maybe you need to serve!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Who do you need to start serving?

2.  Where do you need to start serving? (Home, church, work, your community, etc.)

FURTHER READING:

1 Peter 4:8-11; Mark 10:45; Galatians 5:13

Brita is currently working toward her Master’s in Counseling at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She has called Oakwood her home church for the past seventeen years.

[1] Still not sure? It’s Disney’s Beauty and the Beast!

The Government on WHOSE  Shoulders?

By Elin Henderson

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulders, and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

             

Around December, this verse makes its annual appearance. We see it on Christmas cards and hear it in sermons. Yet, we all need a little reminder after Christmas of just who our Savior is. We need to be reminded that carrying the weight/government of the world on our own shoulders can be a tiring, frustrating and ultimately hopeless experience. Let’s look at whose shoulders are holding up the governments of this world!

He is our….

Wonderful, Counselor: I have heard several times where theologians question whether that comma is there. Truly He is wonderful and truly He is our counselor, but more than anything, He is our wonderful counselor. Human counselors can be a tremendous help and blessing, but there is One alone who is our WONDERFUL counselor. One who knows us inside and out and has endless stores of wisdom to pour upon us.

Mighty God: He is mighty to save, mighty to rescue, mighty to hold, mighty to forgive, mighty to protect. He fights for us. And with Him on our side, there is no fear of defeat!

Everlasting Father: In a world where so many lack a strong or even present father figure, He promises to be that for us! Where others fail to fulfill their role, He never will. There are few of the human roles on earth, spoken of in heaven, but this is one of them. From now until everlasting, He is our father!

Prince of Peace: The world is desperately crying out for peace. They search for it and long for it, but it continually evades them. True peace only comes from one source, our Savior!  “He is our peace who has broken down every wall” (Eph. 2:14). There is only one way for peace to be found, that is when the government of our lives (and world) are on His shoulders - - not ours!

Let’s rest today on the mighty shoulders of our Savior!

GOING DEEPER:                                                       

1.      Which of these attributes of Jesus most stands out to you? Which one do you need a little reminder about throughout the days?

2.       On an index card, draw a set of shoulders, and underneath list out these names and set it out in a place where you can see and remember just who is holding us up!

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 2:6; Psalm 139:1; Psalms 89:8; Jeremiah 49:11; Romans 15:33

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa.  Elin is mother to fifteen-year-old Callie and twelve-year-old Elias. 

Shameless Audacity

By Lisa Boyer

“In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”

Ephesians 3:12 (NIV)

Have you ever read part of the Bible for what seems like the 100^th time, yet see something for the first time? That happened to me recently….

I was reading Luke chapter 11 where the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray. Jesus does so and then He continues with: 

“…Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need” (Luke 11:5-8).

Wait a minute! That story is about prayer? Somehow, this was the first time I understood it to be part of the answer to the disciples question about how to pray. Was I to be praying with shameless audacity?

Perhaps a little back story might help: I was in the middle of a yearlong battle with physical pain and had been wrestling with how I should be praying and if I should “bother” continuing to ask others to pray for me. God already knew my need. I’d asked. Others had asked on my behalf. The fact that I still had pain made it seem as though God had chosen not to listen. Did I really need to ask again?

So there I was, short on faith, reading “…because of your shameless audacity he will surely…” Praying this way wasn’t the way I wanted to talk to my Heavenly Father, but I read those verses again and thought if this is part of how Jesus was instructing the disciples, then I was going to begin to pray with shameless audacity and ask others to pray for me that way as well.

Permission to continually cry out to God has somehow liberated me and given me more confidence in Him. I went from meekly going to God with my needs and the needs of others, to going to Him with the freedom and confidence of Ephesians 3:12.

There are so many verses about praying continually: 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Colossians 1:9, 2 Thessalonians 1:11, Romans 12:12, Isaiah 62:6b, 1 Thessalonians 1:2, Romans 1:9-10.  I don’t know how I lost sight of it.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  How’s your prayer life?  

FURTHER READING:

Click on any of the verses in the last paragraph.

Lisa is married to Ted and they have two sons in college. She serves in Quest 56 on Sunday mornings at Oakwood. 

What It’s About

By Lexi Cole Ellis

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV)

Four years ago, my then-fiancé, Andrew, and I were meeting with wedding caterers and it wasn’t something I was particularly enjoying. I felt defeated. We had been in contact with ten different caterers - - analyzing menus and prices, comparing pros and cons - - and I was overwhelmed.

On the way home from another appointment, I lost it. Andrew looked at me, put his “non-driving” hand over my eyes and said “Change of plans, I have a surprise. Keep your eyes closed.” When the car stopped, we were at Dickten Park. Andrew led me to the spot where he had proposed and said, “Babe, this is what it’s about. Not the money, not the kind of food. It’s all about the next step we chose to take right here.”

We all need those little reminders. We all need breaks in the midst of crazy busy-ness to remember what it’s about. That day made me wonder: Are there other areas in my life where I feel so overwhelmed that I’m missing out on what my life is really about? Are the details and the busy-ness of my routine getting in the way of the “big picture things”? Things like remembering who God is and what He has done for me? Because I’ve known Christ for a long time, I sometimes forget what it’s about. I get caught up in the “today” and the checklist of things to do right at this moment.

What are some of those “big picture” things? What is it all really about?

We are:
 - God’s image-bearers.
 - loved by the Creator of the Universe.
 - free from guilt and shame because of His work on the Cross.
 - called to a life that is intentional about loving and serving others.
 - redeemed by a God who desires oneness with us.
 - purchased at a great cost because He values us.
 - worthy in His eyes to be called His daughters.

The reality is, there is so much power and freedom in the magnitude of what God has done for us. I’m thankful Andrew reminded me of the “big picture” with our wedding planning. I’m also thankful we serve a relational God who deserves to be served above the small little details of our lives. HE is what it’s about.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Before the day gets busy, stop and think about what it’s really about.
2. What do you need to do right now to focus more on the “big picture” of our God rather than the busy details?

FURTHER READING:
Isaiah 40; Psalm 1

Lexi and her husband, Andrew, have an adorable puppy named Calvin. She teaches sixth grade at Silver Lake Intermediate School. Lexi serves with Children’s Ministries and is the Fresh Start Coordinator.

Putting Your Armor On – Part 2

By Peggy Kleckner

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV)

Today, we finish a prayer I wrote - - based on Scripture - - to help us commit to living the familiar principles in Ephesians 6. [1]

Help me to take up the shield of faith - -  not to cower in the corner - - but to boldly hold up my shield to extinguish the flaming arrows that are thrown at me today. Your Word promises that my shield will extinguish them ALL! Remind me that you are who You say you are, you can do what you say you can do, I am who you say I am, no more and no less. You define me; no one else does. I can do all things through Christ…. Whatever you give me to do today, you will enable me to do, and your Word is alive and active in me. You are changing me from glory to glory. You will bring me into fruitfulness in your good timing. Lord, grow my faith and help my unbelief! [2]

Lastly Lord, help me to take up the sword of truth, your Word….sharper than any two-edged sword. Help me to use it to discern truth from error, fact from fiction, right from wrong. Help me to use it to shine your light in dark places, not to clobber people over the head with it. Remind me that your Word will stand and that every jot and tittle will be completed.

Lord, having been fully clothed in your armor, help me to stand firm in whatever battle position you give me today. Remind me that I stand shoulder to shoulder with my brothers and sisters in Christ and though we may be few, with you we are many. Help me to be bold and courageous. Help me to be listening for your orders and to quickly bend the knee at your command, to move forward when you tell me to, and to always be at the ready. Remind me that the battle is yours.

Amen.

GOING DEEPER:

1. How have you seen and witnessed God’s help in the midst of battle?

2. What part of your armor needs some refining?

FURTHER READING:

Ephesians 6:10-20

Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children - - two sons and two stepsons, and is an active encourager at Oakwood Church in Delafield.

[1] Did you miss the first part of this prayer? You can check out yesterday’s devo on the Oakwood Fresh Start blog at http://oakwoodfreshstart.blogspot.com/

[2] ideas derived from Beth Moore, Believing God  (Nashville: LifeWay, 2003).

Putting Your Armor On – Part 1

By Peggy Kleckner

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV)

I was with a group of women when I shared a way of praying through the pieces of armor that Scripture says we are to wear. Weakness is not a bad thing; it leads us to look to Christ for His provision and protection. After sharing my thoughts verbally, several of the women asked me if I had written it out. Since they asked me to do so, I did. For me, writing these truths as a prayer helped me to commit to living these familiar principles. That was several years ago, yet His truth is always a reminder of where God has walked with me:

Lord, today is a new day and the battle continues. Please help me to put on my armor.

Place on my head the helmet of salvation. Keep me grateful for my salvation; for all that you gave, because you cared for me. Remind me that my name card is already in place at the banquet table and that this life is not all there is. There is so much more in you. Protect my mind from the evil one, who seeks to destroy me there. Help me to take every thought captive to you, because your Word promises me that I can. Help me to know which thoughts to hold on to and which ones to release because they are not of you. Stay my mind on you. I can’t do that on my own.

Next, place on me the breastplate of righteousness - - your righteousness - - not my own…my own is as filthy rags. Help me to accept your plan: I stand in Your righteousness. Protect my heart, bind up the wounded places, soften the callused places and bring me into fullness to reflect your glory, a fullness that can only come from you. Pull out the weeds in my heart and nurture the good seed, which you have planted in me.

Gird my loins with the belt of truth. Hem me in, hold me together and hold me fast. Help me to recognize and stay within the boundaries which you have set for my good. Strengthen my back and my legs for the work of this day, whatever it holds.

Shod my feet in shoes of peace. Quiet my fears and bring me into your stillness.  Remind me that you are larger than all of my fears stacked one upon the other…

May we be a people that earnestly pray for His presence as our armor. We’ll finish the prayer tomorrow.

GOING DEPPER:

1. What parts of God’s truth stood out to you?

2. Of what parts do you need to commit to continually remind yourself this week?

FURTHER READING:

Ephesians 6:10-20

Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children - - two sons and two stepsons, and is an active encourager at Oakwood Church in Delafield.

Ready, Set…Action!

By Elin Henderson

“Therefore preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 1:13 (ESV)

           

All we need now is a little film “clapboard” snapping down and the director wearily shouting, ”Life of Elin Henderson take 1,345…..Action!”  It’s true that sometimes our lives are like Hollywood documentaries, dramas, comedies or, in my case, a full-on crazy musical. But in real life, we are called to holiness and to action, especially here in I Peter. But before we get ready for action, we need to have a few things in place! 

Number one: We must prepare our minds for action! All action originates in the mind as a choice. Is it not true that the battle for our lives takes place in our mind? Scripture again and again tells us to guard our minds. It’s our thought life that often gives us the most grief, and sooner or later thoughts turn into actions.

Number two: we have to be serious (sober minded) about life. I love to have fun and love to laugh, but the true question here is what is influencing me? A sober person is not under the influence of a substance. What kind of things can influence us? Our own flesh, the enemy, the world around us…there is no end to things that vie for the attention of our mind. We have to be on alert and seriously focused on the ONLY true source of influence, our God and Savior! 

Finally, we need to set our hope in the right place, on His grace! If you watch the news (or even try not to), it doesn’t take much to get us all riled up. So much sadness, so much pain, so little hope. Soon our minds become overwhelmed by it all. The only hope for our own lives and the world is found in resting in HIS grace and the fact that one day at His revelation, the wrongs will be righted and peace will come! 

So, Get ready, Get serious, Get set, and ACTION! Let our Heavenly Director use us in this world today as instruments of holy action in the incredible script He is writing for our lives and for His kingdom! 

GOING DEEPER:                                                       

1.      How is the divine film production of your life going today? Need a retake, like me sometimes? 

2.      What is a way that you can remind yourself of these simple truths: Ready, Set, Action!?

FURTHER READING:

Philippians 4:7; Romans 8:5; Ephesians 2:10

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa.  Elin is mother to fifteen-year-old Callie and thirteen-year-old Elias. 

When I Look at the Stars

By Brita Crouse

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him?”

Psalm 8:3-4 (NIV)

I live in the city, with bright lights, noisy cars, and plenty of pollution to go around. Don’t get me wrong, there are benefits to living in a city, like public transportation, being conveniently located around shops and restaurants, and always having something to do. But, as someone who grew up living in the country, city life has been an adjustment for me. I miss trees and grass and having a yard. The thing I miss most though, is looking up at the night sky to find it illuminated with stars.

Something about seeing a great, big sky teeming with glowing stars makes me feel small, makes me remember there is more to this life than just me and my problems. When I look at the stars I am reminded of the One who created them.

On a recent trip home to visit my family, I had a sacred, special moment with God while admiring His stars. Some of my siblings and I had just gotten back to my parents’ house after a busy day. I was feeling exhausted, not only physically, but emotionally and mentally, as well. I stepped out of the car after we had parked in the driveway and glanced toward the sky. There I saw them: constellations I had studied and memorized, dimly glowing orbs and brightly shining ones, a canopy of sparkly confetti overhead. There I remembered: The universe is a reflection of God’s creativity, His awesomeness, and His love for us.

God is great and we are small, yet He finds each of us significant and unique, connecting with us in different ways. We can see this when we look at the stars or other parts of His creation.

When I was caught in that moment with God and the stars, I was reminded of these lyrics:

“When I look at the stars

I see Someone else

When I look at the stars

I feel like myself” [1]

When I look at the stars, I see the work of God. When I look at the stars, I am given perspective and reminded of my purpose.

Let us take the time to look at the stars and be reminded of God’s greatness, our purpose, and His love for us.

GOING DEEPER:

1.       What do you feel when you look at the stars or other parts of God’s creation? Take time to stop and praise Him in those moments.

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 89:11, Genesis 1:16

Brita is currently working toward her Master’s in Counseling at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She has called Oakwood her home church for the past seventeen years.

[1] Switchfoot. “Stars.” Nothing is Sound. Sony, 2005. CD.

Living With "Enough"

By Susan Klein

 

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

Philippians 4:12 (NIV)

 

I've never had a walk-in closet. When my husband and I moved six years ago, that was one of the items on my "wish list" as we looked at homes. I didn't get it. In fact, the house we chose has fewer closets than our previous home had. Hanging my clothes in my "standard-sized" closet one night, that latent desire for a walk-in revisited my thoughts. "If my closet were bigger, I could have room for..." Then, reality spoke. "Don't I already have so much that I need to purge my closet every year?"

 

How much is enough? Is it wrong to have "more than enough"? The Apostle Paul addresses this concern in his letter to the Philippians. He apparently had more than enough at some point in his lifetime as he mentions knowing "what it is to live in plenty." He was also familiar with the flip side: knowing what it is to truly live "in want." Fact: God blesses each person according to His perfect will. Paul knew this. His message is one of contentment over anxiety, recognizing "enough" in all circumstances. So, where is the middle ground between "plenty" and "want"?

 

I don't believe there is a middle ground. I believe, like Paul, that whatever God has blessed us with is "enough." The key, according to Paul, is to know how to be content with much or with little, and to avoid the snare of "anxiety" over thinking we need more, when we truly have enough. While I don't believe it is a sin to have much, I do believe it is sinful to show ingratitude for God's provisions by always craving more.

 

What if I could look at my (not walk-in) closet and say, "I am truly content with/grateful for what this closet holds?" I would honor God. What if I looked at my half-empty cupboard as being half-full? I'd exhibit contentment. Or, what if God chose to take it all away from me? Would I succumb to anxiety, or choose contentment, rooted in trust?

Not that I desire to seriously be in want, but if one day I am, I hope I can honestly say, "It is enough."

 

To quote a fellow writer, "Blessed is he who is happy with enough."

 

 

GOING DEEPER:

1. Where do you find yourself on the scale of anxiety  - - contentment?

2. How might you use your "plenty" to help someone truly "in want"?

 

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 11:25; Hebrews 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:6-8

 

Susan is married to Mark, and has two adult children. She enjoys teaching Bible studies, writing, and tutoring with the Literacy Council. She is a member of the Peace Team at Oakwood and also co-leads a Sunday morning Community Bible Experience small group.

Imitation

By Tracy Smith

“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”

1 John 2:6 (NLT)

The first time I heard the country song “Watching You,” by Rodney Atkins, it really hit home to me as a parent. The song starts out with a dad and his four-year-old son driving along and when the dad has to hit the brakes, the boy spills his food and lets a four-letter word fly. When the dad asks where the son learned that word, the son replies with:

"I’ve been watching you, Dad, ain’t that cool?
I’m your buckaroo, I wanna be like you.
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.
We got cowboy boots and camo pants
Yeah, we’re just alike, hey, ain’t we, Dad?
I want to do everything you do.
So I’ve been watching you."

The song goes on to show the dad's reaction and give another nugget on the son and his imitations:

We got back home and I went to the barn
I bowed my head and I prayed real hard
Said, “Lord, please help me help my stupid self.”
Just this side of bedtime later that night
Turnin’ on my son’s Scooby-Doo nightlight.
He crawled out of bed and he got down on his knees.
He closed his little eyes, folded his little hands
Spoke to God like he was talkin’ to a friend.
And I said, “Son, now where’d you learn to pray like that?”  [1]

Of course, the son goes on to repeat the chorus quoted above, that he learned to pray from watching and imitating his dad. That song always reminds me that our children are watching and learning from us at all times. Luckily, like this song states, they don't just learn our bad habits, but our good ones too - - despite our "stupid selves!"

My next train of thought was that there is only one ONE person whom we can imitate and not learn any bad habits: Jesus. The Bible tells us to look to Jesus as our example and to imitate Him and those that imitate Him. The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV), “And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.”

I have to ask myself, when people look at me, do they see Jesus?

GOING DEEPER:

1.    When people look at you, do they see Jesus?

2.    If not, what can you do to change that?

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 16:24; John 13:15; Luke 6:40

Along with being a wife and mother to two teenage sons, Tracy is a ministry assistant at Oakwood, serves on the Women’s Ministry Special Events Team and works with a great group of Junior High girls.

[1] Atkins, Rodney, “Watching You,” Curb Records 2006

We Didn’t Start the Fire

By Carolyn Hulliberger

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again;

There is nothing new under the sun.”

Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NIV)

In 1989, Billy Joel’s song, “We Didn’t Start the Fire” hit #1 on the United States pop charts. The song is a stream of consciousness listing of 40 years of historical events that had happened during his lifetime. After each long list, he sings, “We didn’t start the fire. It was always burning since the world’s been turning…” [1] Consider this partial list, you might find some familiar topics: Richard Nixon, Marilyn Monroe, H-Bomb, James Dean, Bay of Pigs invasion, Disneyland, punk rock, Ayatollah’s in Iran, Afghanistan, AIDS, crack, suicide.

To add some hot topics from the years since, I would include 9-11, Apple, meth, climate change, obesity, Y2K, Al Qaeda, hanging chads, H1N1, 50 Shades, bullying, Columbine.

You get the idea. There are days I turn on the news and I get so discouraged. Our world is a mess! But here’s the thing… it’s ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY! The Old Testament talks of child sacrifice, incest, thirst for power, victimization of the poor, war, famine, slavery, adultery, murder. Solomon’s words from Ecclesiastes in the verse above ring true, “There is NOTHING new under the sun.” (Emphasis added). Humanity has been depraved and destructive since sin was chosen in the Garden of Eden.

Oddly, there can be comfort in that. Man hasn’t come up with anything new. And God is still God. He:

·         created the universe and all that is in it,

·         formed man for the purpose of loving and glorifying Him,

·         gives each of us the ability to choose who (or what) we will serve,

·         enters into a relationship with us when we accept His free gift of salvation.

And through that all, He is still in control. Our world can feel like it will implode at any given moment. We can choose to be fearful of the future for ourselves or our children and depressed about the state of our society.  OR… we can take heart in knowing His Truth and Promise, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8, NIV).

GOING DEEPER:

1. Read the paraphrase of Job chapters 38-41 in The Message.
2. What do God’s own words about His creation and power say to you?

FURTHER READING:

Ecclesiastes 12:14

Along with caring for her family, Carolyn works as an insurance representative, serves in Oakwood Church as a Community Group leader and a High School home group leader.

[1] Billy Joel. We Didn’t Start the Fire. Album: Store Front. 

Pop Quiz

By Elin Henderson

“That they may set their hope in God, and NOT forget the works of God, but keep His commandments…”

 Psalms 78:7 (NKJV)

Much to the chagrin of many a student, a teacher knows that to be able to gauge how much a student really understands (down deep), there is one dreaded tool: the pop quiz! 

It is that element of surprise that shows whether the students have grasped and held on to things, or if it was just flittering at the surface. It’s a good gauge for the teacher to see what specific area he/she needs to re-engage the student in. Usually it means, reteach the content than REPEAT the pop quiz until the student really grasps it. 

Do you ever feel that God sends sudden pop quizzes into your life? Everything in life is progressing normally…we said the pledge of allegiance; we opened our books; everyone is smiling and happy and then - - BAM! A pop quiz is suddenly laid down on our desk! 

We start working through the questions and quickly realize, “Ahh! I don’t know this!” What do you do then? Quit, give up, get angry? We think, “If only I had had time to prepare, I could have tampered down those ugly emotions and come up with the right answer.”

Nobody experienced more pop quizzes than the people of Israel in the wilderness. One after the other came their way!  Sadly, in Psalm 78, the summary/result of these quizzes wasn’t too positive. They hardened their hearts and didn’t remember His mighty works! 

God often sends these pop quizzes to show us the areas where we need to learn and grow. The suddenness of them throws open the doors of our hearts and shows us the areas where His light needs to shine! Instead of shying away from them, quitting or getting angry, we need to honestly work through them - - even if it means failing this time around. 

Yep, our job in pop quizzes is to learn  from them. What is that old saying? “If you don’t learn from history, you are destined to repeat it!” The same could be said for our pop quizzes in life. Lest we end up with the same fate as the sad children of Israel, let’s learn from our failures, keep our hearts right before God, and not forget the mighty works He has done for us.

GOING DEEPER:                                                       

1.      Have you experienced any pop quizzes that just won’t stop repeating themselves? What could be the thing that God is trying to reveal to you in and through them?

2.      Remember. What mighty works has God done that will help you pass this quiz?

 

FURTHER READING:

Psalms 78:7-11; 1 Samuel 6:6; Psalms 95:8

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa.  Elin is mother to fifteen-year-old Callie and thirteen-year-old Elias.