Yesterday, I was taking a walk on a cart path just north of down town Wilmington. With a fence separating this golf course from nearby neighborhoods, I began to hear some commotion a few blocks away. Voices gradually increased in volume, leading to a fervent disagreement between 2 individuals. Others joined in yelling back and forth. Memories of school yard fights flashed before my mind. However, on this day, no fists, knives or guns were raised, just the sound of violence.
A few years ago in Newark, while having practice with my sons baseball team, I wasn’t as fortunate. When a suspicious car rolled slowly through an adjacent street, several rounds of bullets were fired. Before I knew it, I experienced my first drive by shooting, pulling the team quickly off the field into the building behind home plate. The gunman proceeded to cross a creek behind the left field foul line, run across a field and hid near the University of Delaware until a police helicopter found him about a half hour later. This time the sound of violence was too close for comfort.
The apostle Paul warned first century Christian’s that this day would come, 2 Timothy 3:1-5. His words were prophetic as children are regularly disobedient to adults and their parents. Junior high and senior high teachers are now front row witnesses since the sound of violence has entered the classroom, especially in public education. The consequence of this reality is persecution, with Christ absorbing this anger and hatred on the cross, Isaiah 53:3-11. May the hope of this fulfilled prophecy help you overcome the sound of violence.
Please comment on how God has helped you rise above the violence in our world.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 