“A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies” (Prov. 14:5, KJV).
My great-great-grandmother, Lassaphene Gant Segerson, died in 1884 at age 35 from complications giving birth to her 10th child. Sadly, this was a family tragedy that was all too commonly repeated in 19th century rural Tennessee. Usually the deceased were laid to rest with an engraved tombstone to mark their grave, but some were memorialized with only a crude, letter-less, hand-hewn stone. Surprisingly, there are two engraved tombstones for Lassaphene Segerson, lying some five miles apart! Oral family tradition says that during transport, the first tombstone was off- loaded prematurely by the roadside just after the wagon broke down or just before a large storm struck. The first stone was never moved again, and a second stone was placed on her grave at the Marl Bluff church, where her husband was eventually buried beside her.
In Proverbs, Solomon warns us of the difference between a faithful witness and a false witness. Do we faithfully present truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Just like that first tombstone, we can passively tell lies without speaking a single word—by our silence or by our appearance. For almost 140 years, naïve passersby have believed that the first tombstone marks the final resting place of a young mother. The false witness testifies that the mother was buried alone in secluded woods,
but the faithful witness declares that she sleeps alongside family on the church grounds of an active congregation.
O God of truth, may we never deceive by our words or deeds, or even by our silence or appearance. Amen.
David Taylor is a lay pastor of the West Chester church in Pennsylvania.
APRIL 12
God Can Help You Do Anything!
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13, NKJV).
This verse speaks to a specific challenge in my life that makes me feel weak at times. My story is an ongoing struggle. In fact, I am struggling right now to remain focused long enough to complete this assignment.
I have attention deficit disorder, which makes it hard for me to concentrate. Sometimes I ask myself, “Why can’t I just be normal?” I remember one time in seventh grade I had to study for a science test that was coming up the next day. I tried to study on my own, but I wasn’t able to stay focused.
My mom stayed up with me and quizzed me; we got through it, but I went to bed, still not confident in the material. When I woke up the next morning, I got dressed and headed to school. When I arrived at school, I sat in the back row. Not knowing what else to do, I closed my eyes, bowed my head and prayed for strength to focus on my exam. Immediately, a heavy weight lifted.
I took the test that day, and not only passed, but got an A.
There are times when I struggle. There are times when I get down and wonder why I can’t stay as focused and organized as everyone else. But there is one thing I now realize: When I have done my best, even when I don’t think it’s enough, God will carry me the rest of the way. God can help you do anything.
Dear God, thank You for providing the strength that we need and for never being too busy for me. Amen.
Alex Jones is an eighth-grader at the Olney Adventist Preparatory School in Maryland.