A Word & Prayer For Those Who Go To School
Thank you to all of the school teachers, administrators and students at New City who rise every morning to faithfully fulfill your God-given task. Many of our members head out every day to various schools; some public, some private, and some at home. These are not easy days to be a student or on staff at a school. Viruses, people misusing guns toward murderous ends, the politicization of all things, and the cultural currents that disrupt and divide are only a few of the clouds that presently hang over our schools.
In Isaiah 7, a cloud was hanging over the Church. There was great anxiety, even to the point of people shaking like trees in a windstorm. The anxiety came from the threat of violence and bad politics among other things. God spoke to Ahaz in the midst of his anxiety ridden life and said: “Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two stumps of firebrands…” Well, those two stumps represented two bloodthirsty nations and were actually quite a big deal. However, God essentially says, “I am a bigger deal! I love you and will provide for you! Real peace is possible right here in the middle of this storm!”
In fact, throughout the rest of Isaiah, God tells his Church, including us, of all the reasons we should stand firm in peace. May these words reverberate in the hearts of our teachers, students, and all who are grieving the loss of loved ones and friends from the disaster that fell upon Oxford High School: “There will be no gloom for her who was in anguish… the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light… they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest… for every garment rolled in blood will be burned…for to us a child is born, to us a son is given… of peace there will be no end!” (Is. 9). “Therefore says the Lord God: “O my people, be not afraid…” (Is. 10). “There shall come forth a branch, the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, and the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together and a little child shall lead them. The nursing child shall play over the hold of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy! ... for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord and his resting place shall be glorious…” (Is. 11). “You keep him in perfect peace him whose mind is set upon you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock… O Lord, you will ordain peace for us.” (Is. 26).
The point of Christmas, of the incarnation of Jesus Christ, was to make these promises come true. The point of his birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension to his throne was ultimately about bringing peace. Peace with God and peace in our hearts because we know God is for us and he is with us in Christ.
Lord, hear our prayer, especially for the teachers and students:
Our loving and ruling Father, cause the words you spoke through Isaiah to be the overwhelming reality in the hearts of our students and teachers, and in the hearts of the students, teachers, family members, and friends who are suffering through the unspeakable evil of the shooting that took place at Oxford High School. Cause the peace of Christ to rule in their hearts. Help them to not shake like trees in a windstorm, but to stand firm, trusting you, in perfect peace as they walk through this very imperfect world. Deliver from evil those who rise to go to school every morning, and help them to fix their eyes on the King who was born on that first Christmas. Help them to never take their eyes off of him. We offer this prayer in the peace giving name of Jesus, our Savior, Amen.