REPOST FROM OCTOBER 2, 2025

 REPOSTING FROM MY FACEBOOK PAGE DATED OCTOBER 2, 2025

I love when God uses specific scriptures to speak to specific situations. 

Last night was wonderful and terrible. We have a rotation for teaching children’s classes on Wednesday nights. I taught last night about Abram and Lot. The younger group was attentive and were able to answer questions about the scriptures we read. I was elated. Then they rotated from Bible study to recreation, and the older group rotated from recreation to Bible study. It was as if a small group of these children had plotted to be disrespectful and disrupt the lesson. Their disrespect was subtle, not argumentative. They just sat there with smirks on their faces, like nothing from the scripture we read was relevant. Then they would nearly laugh out loud because of their success in distracting and disrupting the other children. When I read the scripture about Lot choosing the land with all the grass and water, the fertile land, I said that sometimes we choose what looks better but it isn’t really the best choice. I used several illustrations about taking things that don’t belong to us because we want them, doing things that make us look more important, smarter, more popular, being the class clown so we get more attention, but we are disrupting the learning of our classmates. When we read about Abram rescuing Lot from the four kings who took him captive, I said that Abram still loved Lot, even though Lot made selfish choices. I said that Jesus still loves us and wants us to be safe and free from being captive to sin. I said that even when they are disruptive, I still love them and want them to learn about Jesus. We didn’t have time to finish the lesson, but when they were about to leave, one of the girls said she had a question. It was more like an accusation. She said that when I used the illustration about disrupting the learning of other students, she felt like I was talking about them. 

To be honest, I struggled with the whole situation when I got home. My emotional pendulum swung from anger and frustration with these girls, to regret and conviction that I hadn’t handled the situation well. (There are bracelets and signs going around saying “I am Charlie Kirk.” I am definitely NOT. I would like to say that I handled the situation with these girls like he handled the people at his “Prove me wrong.” events, but I didn’t.) This morning as part of a study I’m doing, I read 2 Chronicles 36.  

This is what I wrote. 

Read 2 Chronicles 36:1-15

King Josiah did what was right in the LORD’s sight. (1 Chronicles 34:1-2) He was killed in battle. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him. (2 Chronicles 35:24) Jeremiah sang a dirge for him. Josiah’s son Jehoahaz succeeded him as king for three months, but the king of Egypt deposed him and took him to Egypt. (V.2-3,4b) The king of Egypt made his brother Eliakim king and changed his name to Jehoiakim. (V.4a) Jehoiakim reigned for 11 years and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. (V.5) Jehoiachin reigned for 3 months, 10 days and did what was evil in the LORD’s sight. (V. 9) Zedekiah reigned for 11 years and did what was evil in the LORD’s sight and did not listen to the words God spoke to him through the LORD’s command. (V.12) He became obstinate and hardened his heart against returning to God. (V.13) All the leaders of the priests and the people did evil and detestable things. (V.14) We understand that things in Judah were bad. But God in His compassion still sent the prophets to warn them of His wrath. 

Look closely at verse 15. 

15 But Yahweh, the God of their ancestors sent word against them by the hand of His messengers, sending them time and time again, for He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. 

God continued to send His messengers because He had compassion on His people. We have the message of salvation; a warning of eternity separated from God. We must, as Christ’s body, proclaim with God’s compassion the importance of trusting in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Sadly, Judah did not repent and was sent into Babylonian captivity for 70 years. (V. 16-21)

Look at verse 16.

16 But they kept ridiculing God’s messengers, despising His words, and scoffing at His prophets, until the Lord’s wrath was so stirred up against His people that there was no remedy.

Clearly, I’m not Charlie Kirk or Jeremiah, but God’s message through scripture is still Truth that we must proclaim. So, my responsibility to these students is to continue to teach them scripture, to show them the compassion that God showed Judah. His judgment is coming. We don’t know when, but we must continue to show His compassion while there is time for repentance. 

I will teach again in 2 weeks. I need to do a lot of soul searching and praying as I prepare for that lesson. You can pray for me and this group of children if God lays that on your heart.