It’s quiet around the St. John’s campus during the week come mid-summer. The sound of the preschool students has been replaced by the cries of crows, whose nestling has come to ground.
The adult crows swoop around the trees, raising a ruckus, seemingly telling the ragged looking youngster what to do as possible danger nears. The young crow hops around looking haggard and confused.
It is a metaphor in some ways for our relationship with God, who sends messages repeatedly through scripture, given to us through His Son, the evangelists and prophets. We hop around, confused, haggard and refusing to listen, all the while blaming God for the state in which we find ourselves.
As Jesus Christ told Pontius Pilate, according to the Apostle John, “Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37b ESV. Instead, we so often ignore the voice of Christ, because God does not tell us what we prefer to hear.
The theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in his book, The Cost of Discipleship, “Is there some part of your life which you are refusing to surrender at his behest, some sinful passion, maybe, or some animosity, some hope, perhaps your ambition or your reason? If so, you must not be surprised that you have not received the Holy Spirit, that prayer is difficult, or that your request for faith remains unanswered.”
Paul wrote to the Hebrews, in the third chapter, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” Hebrews 3:15 ESV. He refers to the people of Israel, who hardened their hearts against God in the Wilderness during the Exodus, as the Psalmist says in Psalm 95.
As Jesus told the Pharisees, “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 18:47 ESV.
Do you hear God? Do you continue to refuse to surrender to God? As a result, do you find yourself hopping about like a confused young crow nestling, unsure of what to do?
Open your heart and surrender to God. Begin to hear what God has to say, then be one who is of God, not one who is against God.
St. John’s Christian Preschool is currently accepting applications for the 2023-24 school year, which begins Aug 21. Students must be three to four years old and fully potty trained. Visit our website at www.st-johnsLB.org for information about the preschool or our church.
