Dear COA family,
Happy Teacher’s Day in advance to all of the educators and Sunday School teachers in our midst.
Actually, upon further reflection, all of us are in the business of education, so Teacher’s Day really applies to all of us. For example, in the Old Testament, Moses commands all the Israelites to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” All parents are called to “impress these commandments on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)
Furthermore, all of us are commanded by Jesus to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) This is otherwise known as the Great Commission. Teaching about the laws of Christ is an integral part of disciple-making.
Seeing that all of us are involved in the teaching ministry in one way or another, what are the most encouraging words to us?
I believe that it is this: Above all that we teach or do, God is the one who blesses our work. So that we know our efforts are never in vain.
Jesus tells this parable: “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.” (Mark 4:26-27)
In other words, as we are faithful in sowing the seeds of faith, love, and God’s word in the lives of those whom we are entrusted with, God will watch over these seeds to grow and bear fruit. This may come the next day, the next week, or years in the future. Our responsibility is therefore not to ensure the growth but to be faithful to plant the seed.
May we all be encouraged to keep sowing, keep praying, and keep trusting in our Lord Jesus in all that we do to bring up our children, our students, and our flock in the knowledge and love of God.
God bless,
Revd Ian