Daily Devotional for May 25, 2013

Luke 8:15
And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
The major news networks continue to present story after story of courage from the devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma last week.  In particular, there have been numerous profiles of brave teachers who hunkered down – and hovered over – their precious charges…singing with them, praying, and assuring them that “This will be over soon.”  One teacher said, “I just kept telling them, ‘It’s almost over!  It’s almost over!’”  Like most teachers and former teachers, these will tell you that our students become like our own children… each one precious to us.  After all, for some nine months or more, teachers spend as much time – or more – with their students than their own parents do!  I can tell you firsthand that a deep bond develops.
 
Last Monday in Moore, Oklahoma, the patience and perseverance of these teachers and students paid off hugely.  Monthly tornado drills that suddenly became a reality helped to keep the children safe.  The love and courage of dozens of teachers shielded these children… both physically and emotionally.  And while there were heartbreaking losses… there were tremendous harvests of safe, relatively unscathed students and teachers.  Experts of all kinds have asserted that nothing further could be done to protect those children.  Even where students perished, the teachers and those involved were doing what they had trained to do… they were following protocol and heeding the instructions they had been given.
 
While earthly lives were lost, there are blessings and positive points even in these deaths.  We have come to know a lot about the precious children who died… and their families.  God has shown us courageous parents who are facing unbelievable heartache with boldness and resolution.  We have learned about little ones who crammed more living into 9 years or so than many of us who live three, four, or even ten times that long!
 
Just as these teachers and students heeded the safety instructions they had been given… we must listen to God’s word.  Just as these teachers planted seeds of love and devotion for their students and channeled that courage and conviction into becoming a human shield and shelter… we must plant seeds of the Good News of Jesus Christ with total conviction.  We must nurture and shield others as we sew God’s love into them… and we must patiently wait on His harvest.  And just as those children who lost their lives spent what time they had on earth embracing love and blessing others, we must do the same.
 
I’m sure that it seemed like the tornado roared over these Oklahoma cities for hours... even though it was minutes.  And often, it seems like God’s answers and evidence of our efforts on His behalf are taking far too long.  But I assure you, “It’s almost here… it’s almost here!”  God’s answers are always perfect… and right on time.  Our job is to stay hunkered down and keep working until He delivers.  Are you patiently working – and waiting – on God?  Are you anticipating a huge harvest?  Isn’t it time you were?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus