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Matthew 5:14-16; I Peter 3:15-17

Today is our first day of school with students. I am sure that many teachers are like me — there is a degree of excitement and a feeling that you are not prepared. Some of you may be like me and have spent time considering the enormity of the task that many of us take upon ourselves. For me, teaching is the easy part. The hard part of the job for me, the part that no standard requires, no metric grades us on, is the goal to change lives. I enter into today knowing that I only have 180 days to make a difference in my students’ lives. I wonder what challenges I will face. Most of all, I pray that my students see Jesus in me.

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“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”

I Peter 3:15-17

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Our students come to us from every background you can imagine. Some are smart and some are not. Some come from families who are financially well off, and some are not. Some come from Christian homes, and some do not. Some come from stables homes, and others do not even have a home. Some are raised by parents, others by grandparents or aunts/uncles, and others are not being raised by family at all. Some of our middle schoolers are the adults in their home because their parents are not responsible or sober. Regardless, we are expected to teach them the same content, mostly on the same level, and mostly to the same degree of comprehension.

As Christian teachers, we have a higher calling. We are called to represent Jesus to our students. This involves doing more than simply being a good person in front of them. Our students need to see a difference in us. They also need to know that the difference is Jesus. This is what Jesus meant in the sermon on the Mount when He said we are to let our light shine. Our lives are to make God obvious. Light reveals what darkness conceals. God is not hidden, but sometimes hope is. This is what we are to shine light upon. It is not a request for the child of God, it is a command.

Peter told us that we are to always be ready to give an answer of the hope that is in us. Our lives should be one that makes people question why we are different. Even as teachers, when asked a question, we have the right to answer the question about our faith. We should be ready, willing, and able to provide answers. This is the only hope that the world has. Some people will tell us that we are not allowed to be Christians at school. Peter anticipated this kind of response from the world when he wrote, "having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed". It is better to be defamed for living for Jesus, but in the end, they will be ashamed when they stand before Jesus as their Judge. If we are obedient, we will have nothing to be ashamed of. Peter also said, "For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil".

The great English Pastor Charles Spurgeon said, "If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for." While we cannot use our classroom as a pulpit, we can most certainly pray for our students. We can pray for opportunities for the gospel to be presented to them. We can pray for their individual needs. We can pray that they know they are loved by us, and most of all by God. We can also pray that God give us patience in dealing with some of their more challenging shenanigans.

Father, I pray for this coming school year. I pray that those of us teachers who are Your children will be a light to our students, co-workers, and others who cross our path. I thank You for the leadership that we have in Tattnall County. I pray that we continue to have Godly leaders who do not persecute believers. I pray for our safety and protection this year. I ask You to not only open doors for the gospel to be shared, but that people would come to know You and Your love.