Devotion - Tuesday, December 8

The irony of reading Jesus’ encounter with the Pharisees during this week (finals week at Clemson and TCTC) could not be ignored. After Jesus silences the Sadducees with his words regarding resurrection, the Pharisees make an attempt at embarrassing him.

They come, and one of them asks him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” You know his reply, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind…. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus goes on to ask them as question, about David and David’s statements about the Christ. Matthew 22:46 concludes the selection, “Nor from that day did any one dare to ask him any more questions.”

Having the answer which brings an end to all other questions allows Jesus to go on with the work that he came to do.

We sometimes forget that this is the reason for exams. They aren’t intended to torture; they are not an attempt to trip you up. They are testing you, to see if you have the knowledge necessary to go out from here and do the work that you need to do. Granted, there may not be a direct link between this physics problem and managing manatees in the Florida rivers. But there is a link. It is making sure that you know what you need to know in order to go about the work you seek to do.

Those of you in graduate school can support this thought: It is easier to put in the hours when we see the direct connection between what we are studying and what we hope to do for the rest of our lives. That is why grad school professors can demand so much more of their students. If we could see the connections, we would more gladly engage in the studying.

You have probably heard me utter the prayer, printed in LSM-USA’s Oremus which thanks God for studies and for useful knowledge. Knowledge is useful; and all that stuff you are learning now will be helpful to you as you seek to do what it is that God has called you to do.

I hope you will have the answers which will silence those who ask the questions. Impress your professors with your insight. Above all, I pray that you will be thankful for the opportunity to learn and that you will understand that this is an opportunity to prepare yourself for the work that God is calling you to do.