Chapter – 32 ‘Rebekah teaches a lesson’
Several of the teens were waiting in chapel for Rebekah to enter. Most of them had made a commitment for serving the Lord months earlier while attending youth camp. Rebekah was running late because she was talking with one of the 11th graders; it was Kathleen and her mother about a school incident from the previous week. Kathleen was the first to enter; she wasn’t smiling and looked a little pale as she took the closest empty seat.
When Rebekah finally arrived; she spoke as she entered the room. “Today may seem slightly different than what we covered the past two weeks but it is something I learned from a Rabbi when I visited a friend’s church in New Jersey when I was your age.” She paused and smiled for a moment before speaking.
“There is a book, maybe a volume for some of us, sitting somewhere in this room; it is different, not like what most of you would think about, but it can be read.” The oldest of the students looked toward the shelf holding several books then asked, “How is it different?” Rebekah looked toward Susie then she spoke, “It doesn’t look like the book containing the Holy Scriptures; it doesn’t look at all like what you might be thinking.” Susie asked, “What does it tell us?” Rebekah chuckled, then responded, “It can be exposed to those around you. It is similar to the words we read but more visual. It can be read by other people; some who might never read the mysteries that it possesses deep within the pages. She told them that many might read this book without thinking about it. Janet, a tenth grader spoke, “Sounds like a pretty incredible book.” Rebekah replied, “It is and your assignment is to find it.”
Mary couldn’t hold back any longer, “Mrs. Valentine, what does it look like?” Rebekah replied back as she looked directly into her eyes, “It is concealed with different shades of cloth.” All of them immediately started looking around the chapel; on the table and in the book case for colorful book covers; to see what the Teacher might be trying to tell them. Mary finally asked, “Are you sure it is here in the room?” Rebekah looked around and then smiled at Mary just prior to responding, “Yes.” The girls all looked once more and finally Susie spoke again, “We give up Teacher, maybe someone picked it up before we arrived and took it out of the room.” Rebekah looked around the room; then at each in the group; then nodded before she answered, “I’m looking at it right now.” They all looked toward the spot she had just focused her eye on. “It is each of you,” she exclaimed! “You represent the scripture. You are the ones that our Lord has written the message of salvation on. Your daily life is the example of the living Gospel to this world who have never repented or believed. You might be the only inspiration some might see. The love of God and your actions can be powerful to your classmates or friends.”
Rebekah paused and gathered her thoughts before speaking, “When others see you it will be the testimony of what you now represent.” She paused a moment, “Now that we each know that our actions matter; don’t lose sight of it. Make your life an example to others you see each day and then use the Word of God; the scriptures, to reach the lost.”
Rebekah paused a moment thinking about her next comment before continuing, “When you gossip, use unkind words, or even occasionally wear low cut blouses; what do others who are around you think? Many of them may never have attended a church service or have had a mother explain to them right from wrong.” She told them that most of their school friends knew they attended church and in their mortal minds they judge or think IF you are Christians; why aren’t you acting differently?
Susie responded, “My older brother told me that one of his friends on the football team was in trouble for making a ‘wise crack’ about one of the teacher’s, tight sweater.” Rebekah commented, “He spoke an unkind word to get attention; make sure the book they see in you, leaves a pleasing thought.”
What do others see or hear in me?”
[Do my actions, the things I do and say, reflect good or not so good?]
Attachment
- Matthew 5:16, Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. [ Let what you do ( your inner light ) shine before others]
- 2 Corinthians 3:2-3, You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. [You are the letter or book that others read]
- Jeremiah 31:33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. [The Newer Covenant from God is to put HIS Law in our hearts. Being convicted when we do something contrary to HIS commandments lets us know that our inner-self has been reminded that we need to change.]
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For by God’s GRACE you are saved by FAITH. You cannot; by good deeds alone; be admitted into heaven. It is God’s gift to mankind. If good deeds could get you into heaven; you could boast about it; then it would not be a gift from God. [A paraphrase of Ephesians 2:8-9]
DG