II Timothy 2:15

Now, I don’t know exactly where summer went, but (as you may have guessed by the announcements, T.V. commercials, some very sad faces, and Facebook posts) back to school season is in full swing. As I reflected on the fact that our children will be going back to school soon (if not already), I thought to myself, “What does the Word of God have to say to children who are beginning this new school year?” Then as I pondered, I wondered, “What if Apostle Paul was a parent who was sending his child off to school this new school year?” I wondered how that conversation might go. Let’s listen in!

Psalm 133

I’m reminded of a very familiar song that was written back in 1975 by the O’Jays, titled “Family Reunion.” The song has been played at family reunions all across America. One of the reasons I believe the song is so popular is because it captures the love and joy families feel when they come together. But not only that, the song says something prophetic. In a real sense, the O’Jays may have prophesied when they said: “You know the family is the solution to the world's problems today.” All across America, we have witnessed the devastation and destruction of our communities. Over the past few years, we have witnessed an increase in violence and crime. Plus, in my estimation, much of this has resulted in the demise of the nuclear family. If some of these young people were afforded the chance to grow up in a strong family, we wouldn’t see all of the drama that we see today. I believe the song’s lyrics are tailored to teach us valuable lessons about family unity – and they serve as a reminder of why it’s important for families to remain united in love.