We’re part of something bigger than any of us. As Christian educators, we might think we're alone, or our work just impact those within our walls. But I've learnt in the latest years that we are actually part of the big puzzle. And we are AS SPECIAL AS any other piece in the big puzzle of God. In our daily routine, we get stuck in the little things that are important, but if we have the bigger picture in mind, our worldview changes. Just to give you an idea, ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) have 24.000 schools associated, in more than 100 countries. Can you imagine how many students are and were impacted by Christian education? So, as you go in your routine, if you're a seasoned professional or a new one, remember the importance of this work, and base your actions and thoughts in Christ. Do not forget your identity in Christ.
When thinking of the work to achieve God's will, I'd like to bring up three topics: Heart, Team and People (HTP).
In summary:
HEART
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24
Ask God to help you seek the right intentions within your hearts. Approach God, striving to align more closely to His will, and grow in obedience. The spirit convicts those who are seeking his will.
John 16:8 mentions that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will “convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” This conviction is meant to bring a person closer to God, helping them to recognize their errors and seek God’s forgiveness, rather than driving them away through guilt and shame.
How can we know where we stand as Christians?
• Prayer - By having a prayer relationship with God, you'll be opening up your mind to listen to his will.
• Scripture Reading - This is the source of all knowledge. By reading it you'll be able to learn God's intentions, and identify if you're in the right path.
• Counseling - Talking to others, family, friends, pastor. There are people out there available to help you see what you can't. God is relational. And invest time in others will make you grow.
• Review Actions and Motives - God send us signs to stop or go. In a time of rushing from one place to other, from one project to other, you need to find a time to stop and think. Reflect on your actions, and start asking yourself if you're doing it for the right motives.
• Watch God’s affirmation (Opened and closed doors) - Sometimes you really want something, and for unknown or known reasons, you don't get it. God tells us to strive and keep going, be courageous, and fight. But sometimes, the fight is not worthy. We got to open our eyes and see when the closed door is a warning from above that you should not keep going.
By leaning more onto God, you will learn more of you. Search your heart.
TEAM
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
John 13:34
Unity, regardless of different opinions, and respect. Fruits of the true Christian.
By know who you are, after searching your heart and knowing where you stand, you'll be able to identify you role in the body. You're part of the body of Christ, but you're also part of the body of your school or your job.
One Body but Many Parts
1 Corinthias 12 says: 12 There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ.
13 We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so we are formed into one body. It didn’t matter whether we were Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink.
14 So the body is not made up of just one part. It has many parts.
Again, know yourself, and do not try to be what you’re not. Maybe you're just trying to impress, or to give away to peer pressure, or even from family. But listen, God made you in a special way.
15. Suppose the foot says, “I am not a hand. So I don’t belong to the body.” By saying this, it cannot stop being part of the body.
18. God has placed each part in the body just as he wanted it to be. 19. If all the parts were the same, how could there be a body?
As team member, you have to work for the good of all team. If you keep diminishing each other's work, or trying to hurt someone, you'll be ultimately throwing punches at yourself. That is not acceptable, and it doesn't show your Christian character.
PEOPLE
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations… and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19
We are the people of God. We are on a Mission. Your objective in life is to serve others, and lead others to Christ through your work. Remember, you an important piece in the puzzle.
You are serving the students and their families, but you should be also serving those teammates around you. They are your people.
The metaphor of Christians being part of one body, derived from 1 Corinthians 12, emphasizes unity, diversity, and mutual dependence. Here are several ways to live this out effectively within the Christian community:
1. Value Others: Recognize and appreciate that different people have different gifts and roles within the body of Christ. Just as in a physical body, not every part has the same function, so in the body of Christ, each member has unique contributions to make.
2. Practice Mutual Care and Support: Support and care for one another in practical and spiritual ways. This includes offering encouragement, bearing each other's burdens, praying for one another, and being there in times of need.
3. Promote Unity: Strive for harmony and unity within the church. This involves being peacemakers, reconciling differences, and seeking to build bridges where there is division. Ephesians 4:3 encourages believers to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4. Serve Together: Engage in service both within the church and in the wider community. Service is a practical way to express love and unity as the body of Christ.
5. Foster Spiritual Growth: Encourage and facilitate the spiritual growth of each member. This can be through teaching, discipleship, small groups, and personal mentorship.
6. Communicate Openly and Honestly: Maintain open lines of communication and be honest with one another in love. This helps to prevent misunderstandings and promotes a healthier, more transparent community.
7. Celebrate Together: Celebrate each other’s successes and milestones. Recognizing and rejoicing in the achievements of one another fosters a spirit of unity and collective joy.
By integrating these practices into daily life, Christians can strengthen the bonds within their community, making the body of Christ a powerful witness of love and unity to the world.
We need to support, encourage, guide and work together for the good of all.
On the other side of the coin, those are the symptoms of not being part of his people. Stay away from this, as those attitudes and behaviors can harm the unity of the body of Christ, driving wedges between members and disrupting the harmony intended within the Christian community. Some of these detrimental factors include:
1. Gossip and Slander: Speaking negatively about others not only hurts individuals but can also create divisions and mistrust within the community.
2. Jealousy and Envy: These feelings can lead to strife and discord when members envy the gifts, roles, or attention that others receive.
3. Pride and Arrogance: When individuals think too highly of themselves or their contributions, it can lead to a lack of respect for others, diminishing the value of other members’ roles and contributions.
4. Lack of Forgiveness: Holding onto grudges and not forgiving others can cause lasting divisions and bitterness within the community.
5. Selfishness: Prioritizing personal desires or benefits over the needs and well-being of the group disrupts unity and the spirit of mutual support.
6. Perjury: Telling lies and bringing up ideas that can lead to confusion, mislead others, and cause significant divisions within the body.
7. Exclusion and Cliques: Forming exclusive groups that shut out others can make some members feel undervalued and isolated.
8. Neglecting Conflict Resolution: Ignoring conflicts or not addressing them in a healthy and biblical manner can allow unresolved issues to fester and grow, eventually harming communal unity.
9. Lack of Transparency and Accountability: When leaders or members are not open or accountable in their actions, it can lead to mistrust and skepticism among the community.
Addressing these issues promptly and biblically is essential to maintaining and restoring unity within the Christian community. Focusing on Christ’s teachings about love, forgiveness, and humility can help guide actions and restore harmony when disruptions occur.
I'd like to bring back to memory something broadly used in the 90s. Many Christians used wristbands with the WWJD letters meaning What Would Jesus Do?. This is something we should remind ourselves everyday. As Christians, what would be His position and decisions?
There was a great song from that time created by a band called Big Tent Revival. Part of the lyrics says:
"What would Jesus do
Walking in my shoes
Working at my job
And going to my school?"
God sends us signs. It comes from friends, from sermons, from situations in life, from family. But he can use anything to make us aware of our wrong doings. The thing is, are we listening to Him?
God gives us chance of repentance.
He is a loving father, he is patient and kind.
But he is also a God of Justice.
So, be aware of your ways.
God bless you and help you in every way. Amen!
Commentaires