Maundy Thursday:
After Jesus had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord — and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them."
– John 13:12-17

Your School Needs Jesus

My wife welcomed her new 3^rd graders at our local elementary school last week.  Our communities’ students, teachers & school staffs need prayer as they begin a new year.  I believe that they need Jesus’ guidance and blessings this year.  Every year, teachers continue to learn new educational tools, methods, & skills.  Administrators and staff face new challenges in meeting the needs of today’s students.

The first 5 books of the Old Testament were called the Torah or the Law.  Rabbi’s back then taught the Torah to their young students, so that children grew up knowing that God had created the world and done marvelous things through Abraham and Moses.  As the decades and centuries went by, God’s Spirit lead the Israelites to add the books of history and poetry (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon) to its sacred Scriptures, and the prophetic books came later.   

In the New Testament, Jesus was known especially for teaching; He was a Jewish rabbi.  He taught outdoors as well as in the synagogue.  He taught hard, new ways to interpret the Old Testament, especially in Matthew 5-7, his famous sermon on the mountain.   Each gospel presents a different side of Jesus’ ministry; so take the time to read each of them.  Some of his stories made religious leaders look bad and outcast minorities look good, such as the parable of the Good Samaritan, or the Pharisee and tax-collector who prayed in the Temple. 

I appreciate the time my employer gives me for continuing education, to keep learning.  No matter how old we get, there’s always something more to learn.  I hope to keep learning for many years, partly because learning new things keeps one young by introducing new things into one’s life, no matter what your age.  No matter how old you and I get, there’s always more to learn about Jesus and following Him as our Savior and Master.  To learn about following Jesus, read the first 4 books of the New Testament and spend time praying to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  A church in your community can also you learn about Jesus.

Pray for the school in the district where you live.  These are challenging times for students and everyone involved in educating them.  Every school needs Christ and his Spirit’s guidance, protection, mercy and gracious love.  Your local school needs Jesus.  Pray that every Christ-follower in your local schools will be a light in a dark world.  

Things Are Changing. Are you changing?

I hate getting older, dieting or getting fat, quitting bad habits, children, updates to computer programs when I just got the hang of the old version.  I do like some changes.  I like the feel of my new athletic shoes.  I like watching the Green Bay Packers pound the ball this season.  

Things are changing.  Life is like a river; the water is always flowing and moving.   Some objects are carried downstream.   Erosion happens.  In November, the days are getting shorter.  The nights are getting colder. 

Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  He does not change; so we can count on his faithfulness to his promises, and if you’re trusting Jesus for the forgiveness of your sin, He promises to be with you always (Matthew 28:20). 

But God does expect US to change our ways.  In Matthew 18:3, the Teacher said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”  Children tend to have a humble approach to life; children have to depend on others for food, clothing, shelter, transportation, love, attention, and nurture.  But some of us adults use negative words to describe others with whom we disagree.  Or we look down on those with less or who are different from us.  Jesus hung around with tax-collectors, prostitutes, drunks, and other sinners.  Do we spend time with others to help or share something with sinners?  Or do we ignore them?  

I was recently at a conference in which we were taught, nurtured, & encouraged to consider how we might change; we were given significant freedom in how to change.  I wrote a plan to change my life, and am seeking to incorporate those into my life.  Someone once said, You’re either changing, or you’re just getting older.

So do you want to change?  I hope you’ll trust the God of heaven and earth during this season.  If you’re already trusting Him, how do you believe the Master wants you to change?