The Divided Kingdom and Kids on the Bus

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I am a teacher.

It is what I do everyday, even when we aren’t doing school here at the house. At church I have the privilege of teaching the children every few weeks. It just so happened that I was teaching our Wednesday night class this week. I don’t find it coincidental that the scheduled lesson was about the ancient kingdom of Israrel  being divided.

We are in a similar place as a nation today, just as we were four years ago and will likely be again. That we endure, undivided as a Nation, is a glowing testimony to the rest of the world.

Our Bible lesson was a reminder about what it means to disagree and how we can do it without destroying the relationships around you. Even though the lesson was for 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders, I think it is a lesson the bares sharing today.

We started with a survey at the beginning of class. We picked out two swanky locations for a virtual field trip; McDonalds or Burger King, because we needed a kingdom divided and nothing does that faster than BK curly fries. We tallied the votes, and determined we were going to Mickey-D’s. Then we talked about the trip for a bit.

How are we going to behave?

Those of you who are going to get what you wanted. Are you going to gloat, call names and brag about your cooler selection of toys the other place doesn’t have?

You who are headed to a place you don’t want to go, are you going to fall to the floor and pout during the trip, are you going to starve in protest, and trash the place when we get there?

What happens if we do this? Our lesson from the bible showed us the result.

We talked about the Kingdom of Israel, two kings, one country. A people that could not agree, so they were divided. Further and further. Until they were so divided that even God could not speak to them. Divided to the point that they fought against each other as enemies.

We all wanted to go somewhere this week

As a nation we all raised our hands and tallied up what we wanted. Some wanted one president and some wanted another. Only one group got their way, but that is day one. We are all still going to get on the same bus and make this trip, together.

What kind of trip is it going to be.

I hope we have a trip that is one like the kids offered. We asked what they could do to make it a great trip even though some people didn’t like the place they were going. They said they could tell them about the toys that the other place offers, they can share their favorite items and ask the other kids what they like and look for similar items on the menu. They suggested they still sit together and even let each other be a little sad.

Our kids are smart. They know what it is like to ride on the bus when it is miserable. It is better when we are kind to each other and thoughtful.

We are faced with the same choices as adults.

United or divided? Humility, peace, sincerity, and prayer, endless prayer. Let’s make sure everyone on the bus is safe, even if they are a little bit sad, or a whole lot angry. Division cost Israel 400 years, and unfathomable collateral damages, eventually leading to an entire nations captivity and destruction.

We don’t have to guess about what to do next

God left us instructions, what to do in case of emergency, and I am following them today.

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”    2 Chronicles 7:14

Our first instruction is a personal call to relationship with the living God. To become a people called by His own name. The word says, you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood a holy nation, His own special people.

Our second instruction is to humble ourselves. True humility is to not think more highly of yourself than you ought to. What are you doing to change the world you live in for ther better. It is our duty to reach out across all party, social, and economic lines to show the face of God to the world

Our third instruction is to pray and seek God’s face. Seek a personal revival. Pray for those areas we have not been diligent to pray for in the past. Which should help us identify where we need to work on our soul.

Fourth, be intentional in your walk with God. Turn from your wicked ways. It says what is means and we know that we all have places we need to identify with honesty. We will be dealing with our sin nature until the time we die. We speak when we should listen. We listen to the wrong people for too long. We lie when we feel justified to do so. We hate when we should love. Even if it is for a moment, it is still wicked, and we are hurting people with our actions.

The last part is amazing, because the God of heaven, who formed the earth and probably has better things to do, doesn’t. He is waiting. Listening. He hears you. Heaven is not so far that God can not hear you, forgive you and bring healing to our land. Healing is a strong word but nothing short of healing would be good enough for God. He is the restorer of hearts and the deliver of our souls. He alone will respond to these promises because He alone gave them.

I pray you are encouraged, awakened, humbled and ready to get on the bus together