Gotta Love Substitute Teachers

Yesterday I went in to substitute teach at the middle school, and taught 6th grade and 8th grade English classes.  The teacher I subbed for was terrific, because they left me straight forward and easy to understand directions.  His instructions made sense,  were easy to follow, and they worked.  All I had to do was read them, and follow them.  It made my life as a sub SO much easier.  Not every sub understands that.

Sometimes subs come in and want to add to the teacher's guidelines, so that they can be "creative" or "impressive".  They work above and beyond what is expected of them, ignoring the advice of the very person in charge of the class.  It usually tanks.  You remember them from your days in school. 

Then there are the subs who don't care enough to actually do the work given to them.  They're just passing time, getting paid, and going home.  The class is pointless in their hands.   These are the ones you always see in every dumb movie about high school.

I really just want to be the sub who does what is expected of me, and enjoys the day as best I can.  So today, I'm reading in Deuteronomy 30, and God lays out a teacher's plan for life.  Here's what He drops in our laps:

"10 if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”
14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. 15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction."

I love that phrase "it's not too difficult for you or beyond or reach".  He keeps life's commands simple.  If we follow them, it all works.  If we try to make things to difficult (here is where religion comes in), we'll miss it.  We'll live stressed out lives that don't go anywhere.  If we ignore him and do things our own way, we end up with a life that's chaotic, like an 8th grade gym class.

God's word is very near us, in our mouths and hearts.  He has given it to us.


It's up to us to read the manual left for us, and decide what sort of follower we want to be.


I'm so glad He left great instructions!

God Wants You to Fight Like You're In a Cartoon

God cracks me up in Deuteronomy 20.  He is giving instructions to the people of Israel on what to do when they are in a war.  He says that before they go into war, they are supposed to tell anyone who has a new house, a new wife, or a new vineyard that they are excused from fighting and can go home.  If anyone is afraid or worried about going into battle, they can go home.  God just releases soldiers from duty left and right with no concern.

Then later He tells them that if they march up to a city and have to lay siege to it, not to cut down any fruit trees around the city, because they will want those to eat from later.  It's okay to cut down the other trees, but keep the fruit trees.

This is crazy talk.  We're talking about war here.  Take no prisoners, fight to the end, use every ounce of resources you have to win.

Unless you KNOW that you will win.

Then you aren't so worried.

When you have a secret weapon that is invincible, you can let soldiers go home.  You can leave trees standing for later, because when you take the city, you WILL eat from them.  When you're certain of victory, you can afford to do crazy things like this.

God is certain of victory.  He never doubts.  He is fighting for them.  They will win.  Period.

What about us?  Does God fight for us in life?  He tells us not to worry, not to get vengeance, not to defend ourselves.  Why?  Because He will do all those things for us.  They sound crazy, UNLESS you have a secret weapon.  Then you can act looney in the middle of a battle, you can live without worry as you march off to war.

What's your secret weapon?  Do you trust Him?

A Whole New Justice League

God is really big on justice.  In Deuteronomy 16, Moses is explaining the plan for the people, and winds down his speech with these words:

"19 Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.20 Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you."

He throws out several commands in this one:
1. Do not pervert justice - Don't cheat other people.  Don't lie.  Don't deceive others.  Justice happens at work, at school, at home, in our town, our nation, and globally.  Wherever you have a relationship, don't pervert justice.  Be truthful, honest, live so that accusations can't stick to you.

2. Do not show partiality - Don't be impressed or afraid of anyone because of "who they are".  Don't let other people dictate how you live.  Live for God, not for other people.  Don't show favoritism to one person at the expense of someone else, no matter what you may get from it.

3. Do not accept a bribe - Don't let yourself be bought.  People try to buy us with fake friendships, with popularity, with dishonest praise, with acceptance/rejection, with fear, and all sorts of stuff.  Most of us aren't bribed with cash by someone, but other people try to buy us off all the time.  Don't fall for it.

4. Follow justice, and justice alone - Do what is right, because it is right.  Not because it's easy, fun, convenient, simple, painless, or benefits us.  Do what is right, what is just, regardless of how big, scary, intimidating, powerful, rich, or strong the oppressor might be.  Do what is right.  Follow justice, and justice alone.

Which of these four is God pushing you to work on today?  For me, it's number two.  How about you?