Daily Lesson for July 26, 2016

Today's Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 27 verses 39 through 43:

39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

This week at camp out Bible memorization was Hebrews 12:1b-2:

"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

It's interesting to talk to kids about scorn and shame and ridicule because they are so present to it in so many ways. Whereas we adults, having learned to keep our heads down and avoid standing out, have become masters at avoiding shame and ridicule, children on the other hand are still exposed.  The kids I was with last week are still being mocked and terrorized by playground bullies and "mean girls".  Because of that a week at camp involves talking about the cross on an entirely deeper and more challenging level than most of us adults ever experience.  These children, seeking to hold onto themselves, their dignity, and the dignity of Christ's way, challenge and inspire me.

The last night of camp we sang a song called "The Summons", a line in which says:

"Will you risk the hostile stare
Should your life attract or scare?"

The children I was with are risking hostile stares in their schools.  They're risking hostile stares to love science, to dance, to befriend the disabled child in the class, to embrace having two moms, to read their Bible at lunch.  They're risking hostile stares in order to live the lives to which Christ is summoning them.

We must become like them.