These are devotionals ("devos") that I wrote for my Junior High/Senior High Sunday School kids a couple of years ago. They were e-mailed to a number of teens last year, and also to a group of "in-betweeners" -- people who were out of high school and in college and/or young adults. Oddly enough, the list also contains some adults... so the devos must have universal relevance. Here are the devos for the first four days of September. I pray that they might have meaning and relevance for you, as well. -- DR aka "Aunt Deb"
September 1 Read Ephesians 6:4
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Well, here we are at the beginning of another school year. The Bible doesn't talk a lot about school, per se, probably because formal schools most likely didn't exist in Biblical times. I suspect they did a lot of home schooling then.
You may wonder what this particular scripture has to do with school -- and in particular, study and application. It seems to me that the message to students in this scripture is that we are called to follow the teachings and commandments of Jesus. It is important to Jesus that we apply ourselves, that we work hard, and that we "be all that we can be." This honors and glorifies Him.
So, by studying and working hard in school, we honor Jesus. We are "trained up" in His ways, and He is very pleased with our efforts.
©Debbie Robus 2004
September 2 Read Galatians 4:1-3
Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is a master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
Does school feel like bondage to you? Do you ever feel like you are a "slave" who is told to get up, go to school, study hard, and do whatever your teachers and parents tell you to do? I know it seems this way at times, and honestly, there are times when everyone just goes through the motions where school is concerned. It's not all fun and games, and some of it can be just plain boring and drudgery -- something we just have to endure.
But here's the deal… Jesus wants us to be content/happy in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, including school. He wants our very best efforts in anything and everything. So we must get up every day, go to school, study hard, and respect our teachers and their efforts to help us grow in knowledge. If our teachers aren't doing a good job of teaching, it is up to us to "get it" anyway -- on our own. Jesus wants us to grow in wisdom, and certainly, we want to please Him. It takes a change in attitude, but it's worth it, and it can make school a whole lot easier!
©Debbie Robus 2004
September 3 Read 2 Chronicles 17:7-9
Also in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders, Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. And with them he sent Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah -- the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.
Even back in Old Testament times, there were teachers who were sent out by God to educate the people, primarily in the ways of the Lord, but I’m sure there were also teachers for basic things, like reading, writing, math, science.
God wants us to have wisdom -- not just spiritually, but academically, too. He wants us to know math, reading, language, science, so that we can do whatever He calls us to do in life to the very best of our ability. To do this, we have to study, pay attention, go to school, and listen and learn from our teachers.
I pray that you will have a spirit of confidence and satisfaction that your work at school is pleasing to God and for His glory in making you the person He wants you to become.
©Debbie Robus 2004
September 4 Read Acts 22:3
I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.
Do you know what it means to be zealous for God? It means you will do anything and everything for Him -- that you will work hard for Him, stand up for Him, even fight for Him. This doesn't mean physically fistfight for Him, but you will stand your ground in discussions about God, and you will witness for Him in your everyday life.
Are you zealous about school? After you stop laughing and thinking I must be delirious, think about this question again. If you are zealous for God, and it pleases God that you are going to school and giving your best effort to study and grow in wisdom, then doesn't it follow that you are zealous for school -- or that you should be?
I encourage you to ask God for strength and courage, and for the right attitude about your school work and studies. He cares for you so much, and he wants you to have the very best in life. If you earnestly seek His guidance and protection, He will help you to find joy and peace in your job as a student.
©Debbie Robus 2004
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