Lately I have been reading and re-reading Ephesians 6: “11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Maybe it is because we sub-titled our VIP Event, “STAND for Schools” from this passage; we need folks to STAND against those forces that work against our Lutheran Schools. Maybe it was because some of those forces tried to put a stumbling block in front of our event a few weeks before the event. Or Maybe it was because others chose to STAND and publicly support our event because of those evil forces! The response from Christian friends in public and private has been a true faith-builder for The Partnership.
Anyway, as a youngster (ok, as an oldster, too) I would bring up images of knights with swords battling dragons. Today I have visions of students learning about Christ every day as their teachers give them the armor needed to do battle in today’s world. I see pastors teaching the Gospel at chapel, in informal talks during the drop-off car lines, and in confirmation classes helping students stand their ground. I see principals encouraging the next generation of teachers, pastors, and principals so that the stand can continue.
If Alexander Pope’s statement from 1732 is true, “As the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined”, then I can’t think of a better way to fulfill the wise words of King Solomon in Proverbs 22:6, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
God bless our Lutheran Schools as they continue to strengthen the hearts, and armaments, of our youth.
