The First Day

It was cool and cloudy this morning as I made my way across campus to Owens Hall to make final preparations for the first day of classes. I kept eating the tasty apple which I suppose is the only thing I'll be able to keep down this morning as I went into the classroom and prayed, first for the students, then for me. I prayed that all of our hearts would be open, and that God would teach me again that it is not by might, nor by power, but by God's Spirit that these things are accomplished (Zech 4:6). And I prayed that they would consider themselves apprehended by God (to borrow from Oswald Chambers), that they would have a sense of rightness about being here, in this place, learning from some American how to read the Bible. As if they didn't already know how to do that. A monumental task lies before me. I know I am not up to it, but through the grace of God I will fulfill the role he has given to me. "The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you," said somebody. I don't know who first wrote that down, but I think it's a pretty good summary of what we're about. Anyone who is on a mission from God knows that the mission cannot be completed; they know that "unless the LORD builds the house, the the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD protects the city, the guard keeps rounds in vain" (Ps 127:1). Would that I could live up to these words.