Today’s scripture: Isaiah 46:1-13 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Kirsten Shaw):
In second grade, I had the most amazingly unhappy teacher. Mrs. Kintz always mixed her patterns: flowery dresses from the neck down, scowl-induced wrinkles from the neck up. At the beginning of every week, she’d make her way to the back of the classroom, hold up a candy-filled jar bigger than a watermelon, and promise that if we all behaved that week, we could each get a piece of candy on Friday. I can’t describe the taste of the candy though, because I never tasted a single piece. She would invariably single out one of my classmates and explain what petty infraction they had committed to deny us our bounty. A resentment-induced student scuffle at recess would customarily follow. Despite our meager odds, however, we continued to hold out hope that one day, we would prevail.
By October, I grew weary of Mrs. Kintz toying with my taste buds. One Friday afternoon, my mother phoned in that she was going to be late picking me up. I was instructed to wait in the office until she arrived. As I sat there, Principal Steckley passed by and asked me how I was enjoying my day. I suppose that he expected me to offer a polite response that only required him to half listen. Instead, I told him that I would be better if Mrs. Kintz wasn’t so mean. He didn’t dismiss my words. Instead, he invited me into his office to tell him my tale. He listened intently and thanked me for my honesty.
When I got to class on Monday, I was relieved to see that the candy jar was gone. I was even more relieved when I realized she didn’t know I was the one who had talked to the principal.
In Isaiah 46: 1-13, we read about false gods and sovereign power. How had Mrs. Kintz’s self-perception as the sovereign ruler within the classroom affected how she loved and treated others? What if I had put my faith and trust in her instead of lifting my struggle up to a higher power?
Mr. Steckley may have saved me from enduring additional cruelty with Mrs. Kintz and her candy jar, but only God can rescue me from the world’s oppression.
Humanity is drowning in oppressive beliefs. It’s tempting to relinquish our courage. But God calls us to live in active faith and embrace our conviction of the Almighty.
Indeed, there’s nothing sweeter.
Question for the day: How can God work through you to help those not in a position of power?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.