"At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children." Matthew 11:25
Jesus loves little children, reading a little further in the same Chapter in Matthew he continues to say “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
As adults who are daily in the Word, we should become more aware of the burden of daily sinfulness that presents itself along our path. We look at ourselves and the world around us and we see the horrible nature of this sinful world we live in. These children attend the Lutheran school at Carefour Duclos which is located in the Les Cayes District, the southwestern corner of Haiti. Their world is filled with the sin of vodou.
Many people have different interpretations for vodou, but it is satan worship; it is all about control. The vodou priest has control over the little children and their parents. The vodou priest can call down evil spirits to bring horrible, challenging times upon their lives; physical pain, crop failure, hard times; it is all about control. When we get lax in our daily devotions, stray from being in the Word; then satan takes control and leads us to believe that ‘we’ are in control and not God.
Thank you for preparing these boys and girls spiritually and physically to do battle against the evil foe. I heard the song “My hope is built on nothing less” recently and it is a wonderful reminder on what our hope and the hope of the children in Carefour Duclos is truly built on. The words were written by Edward Mote, 1797-1874 and were joined to music by William Bradbury 1816-1868.
“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand. When Darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand. His oath, his covenant, his blood supports me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand. When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found! Dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne! On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay