Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 19; 1 Corinthians 1; Lamentations 4; Psalm 35
After a nice long summer break, my kids started school this past Monday. Getting back to the daily routine of getting up early, packing lunches and doing homework is always an adjustment for us. So is brushing up on things we should have practiced over the summer, but didn’t. Here is the truth – I was as happy for summer break as my kids were – I didn’t make them practice their math facts or read any books all summer long. We were busy going to the pool, hanging out with our friends, enjoying the weather, and spending quality time together. Of course, this was going to catch up with us at some point…
When I got home from the office on Wednesday. I was greeted by my visibly troubled nine year old daughter. She was very concerned about the results of her multiplication test that afternoon. She hadn’t done very well. She learned her multiplication facts last year, but didn’t practice them all summer, and thus had earned the lowest score in the class. I lovingly reminded her that being proficient in math requires a lot of practice and we just needed to get back to it. A little practice and she will soon be fine. But do you know what bothered her the most? It wasn’t that she couldn’t remember the multiplication facts, it was that she had gotten the lowest score in the class. She felt the weight of not measuring up to expected standards.
After taking the summer off, Annika cannot boast about being the best mathematician in the fourth grade. She has a little catch up work to do. But during her summer of fun and relaxation, Annika received a priceless gift. Something no amount of work could ever earn. Something she will never forget. On June 19, Annika placed her faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized. She is a new creation. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, she measures up to expected standards – she is perfect in God’s eyes.
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).
Read verses 30 and 31 again. We have wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption through Jesus Christ. Praise be to God for his glorious gift!