Author: Woodrow Kroll, Tony Beckett
Source: Faith Walk
Scripture Reference 2 Chronicles 32 John 18:19-40
Science Project
2 Chronicles 32-33, John 18:19-40
Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 32:7-8
One of the most dreaded days in the life of parents is when their elementary-aged child brings home a piece of paper that reads, "Science project." Truth in advertising laws should apply and the assignment be called what it is: Parent/Child Cooperative Homework Assignment." What has been given to the child to do inevitably requires parental involvement.
The thing to avoid is either extreme. If it is done totally by the child, the project will probably not meet the teacher's expectation. If it is done totally by the parent, that's obviously unacceptable. In between is the holy grail of homework: parental involvement, student participation. It is a "both/and," not an "either/or" situation.
The challenges we face in life should be approached with a "both/and" mentality. But in this case, the two parts of meeting the challenge are not parent and child but you and God.
In Hezekiah's day, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, invaded. Hezekiah prepared to be attacked. The water supply was secured, the walls repaired, towers built and weapons and shields manufactured. That was his part.
The other part of the defense was God's. "There is a greater power with us than with him," Hezekiah said of Sennacherib. "With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles" (32:7-8).
"Either/or" was not enough. The people did not rely just on the "arm of flesh" or just on God. It was "both/and." They prepared and trusted God--an early "Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition" approach, which needs to be our approach. Work and pray.
Do you trust just in what you can do, forgetting God? Or do you sit back waiting for God to do it all? Determine to live in balance, not with an "either/or" mind-set but "both/and." Work and pray.
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