The Children of Zion Must Follow Their King

I was just re-reading the “Grandmother’s Dream” post and, combined with some little things that happened this weekend, thinking about the wisdom of John 15:20, “The servant is not greater than his Lord.” And 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Why do we think the world, even family and friends, will understand our deep desire to raise our families in a godly, biblical way?

I am afraid that the entrenched forces, the elistists of the world, feel it is not only their right, but, indeed, their bounden duty to inject themselves into our families, to persuade us to toe the line and “assimilate” into the culture. I am thinking, not only of the “liberal” establishment, but even those who should appreciate those who are striving to apply the Word to family living. After years of observing those who think of families like ours as “strange”, I have come to the conclusion that they must be under stinging conviction, not wanting to disturb their contentment with the status quo – “Hey, what’s wrong with a little one-foot-in-the-world?”

For years our family lived in the vortex of a public ministry, where it was vital to keep alert to the enemy’s attempts to conquer through discouragement at the least and sometimes outright persecution. But in the last few years, the Lord has seen fit to send a season of peace and relief, and the tendency is to let down our guard and be taken by surprise when little snide remarks come, or outright ridicule.

How wise the Lord has been to warn us to be ever watchful! We are not greater than our Lord, and it should be a badge of honor to suffer snickers or slings for His sake. The older grandchildren and I talked about this a few minutes today during “Monday” school. How refreshing to hear them re-affirm their commitment to God’s ways, His truths. This worldview is unfolding in their lives with strength and vigor!

Danny and I say often how thankful we are that the Lord has allowed us to participate in helping their parents to send forth these straight and mighty arrows into the future! As our children were growing up, this little poem (sung to the tune of “The Ashgrove”) was one of our anthems. We are called to be “different” and this expresses that walk very sweetly. “We turn from the world, with its smiles and its scorning, to cast in our lot with the people of God.”

The Master Hath Come
by Sarah Doudney, 1871

The Master hath come, and He calls us to follow
The track of the footprints He leaves on our way;
Far over the mountain and through the deep hollow,
The path leads us on to the mansions of day:
The Master hath called us, the children who fear Him,
Who march 'neath Christ's banner, His own little band;
We love Him and seek Him, we long to be near Him,
And rest in the light of His beautiful land.

The Master hath called us; the road may be dreary
And dangers and sorrows are strewn on the track;
But God's Holy Spirit shall comfort the weary;
We follow the Savior and cannot turn back;
The Master hath called us, though doubt and temptation
May compass our journey, we cheerfully sing:
"Press onward, look upward," through much tribulation;
The children of Zion must follow their King.

The Master hath called us, in life's early morning,
With spirits as fresh as the dew on the sod:
We turn from the world, with its smiles and its scorning,
To cast in our lot with the people of God:
The Master hath called us, His sons and His daughters,
We plead for His blessing and trust in His love;
And through the green pastures, beside the still waters,
He'll lead us at last to His kingdom above.