But, I'm worried about my students. So often, we become complacent in our lives as Christians, that we forget or lesson God's place in our lives. The direction - continually trying to live like Christ lived - that we are heading becomes lost in the mist of life. I gave my students a writing assignment today, asking them to name the top five relationships in their lives, and then rank them in importance from 1 to 5. In scanning their papers, I could see their lists... one out of my nine students ranked God in the number 1 spot... One. In their other lists (by their own admission, I might add), He wasn't even listed. When I mentioned it, there were excuses.. I didn't know if that was okay to put, or I didn't think that was an answer. And the thing is, I don't doubt my students faith or their belief in God. I've been with these kids for three years; I've seen their faith strengthen in some and seen others come to know Him in a way that makes me imminently proud. But there is something wrong when a simple list, requesting that you rank your most important relationships doesn't include God. Maybe I'm expecting too much. They are high schoolers after all... but, if they don't even recognize God the Father as having a place in a simple list - whether by simple ignorance or just not recognizing His importance... how will they be able to join the battle?
This was the first and probably the simplest part to the assignment. The writing assignment went on to ask them to grade themselves in the areas of: attitude, servitude, cleanliness, poor in spirit, humility, merciful, pure in heart, peacemaking, loving others, respectfulness, honesty, integrity, compassion, self-discipline, ambition, slothful, proliferate drama & tension, positivity, sow seeds of discord, and morality. I'm sure, given time, I could have made this list longer, but basically its based off of the beatitudes in Matthew, the 10 commandments and other values of a Christian. I didn't want to blast them, but I had hoped that they would be honest with themselves about their own shortcomings. We all have them. We are better in ways and lack in others.
It was a five step process, the writing assignment was. I wanted them to evaluate their lives, to consider that if they were standing trial for being called "Christian" - would there be enough evidence in their lives to be convicted?
I called them - challenged them, really - to look within their circle of friends, and to judge whether or not it was selfish not to share the saving grace of Jesus Christ with their friends, by their words, by their actions, how they treated one another and by how they lived their lives.
Were they living their life like Jesus lived his?
Were they spreading the gospel, going to the nations and making disciples of everyone (Matthew 28:19), or... were they simply sitting on the sidelines, not willing to get their hands dirty in the battle?
It was silent for ninety minutes. The only sound that could be heard was the tapping of fingers against keyboards and pens scratching into paper.
I told my students that I wasn't asking to read their papers that they wound up writing... that, of course, if they wanted me to, I would, but that reading them would not affect their grade in anyway. One of them shared with me. I was deeply proud of this student, because after looking inward at herself, she had enough courage to take what was a personal topic, and allow me to read it, without fear of judgement or repercussions or shame.
In a way - and I am no no way comparing myself to Jesus - but, in a way, thats how we should be when we fail Christ... when we stumble along the way. We shouldn't be afraid to share and come to repentance with Him. He is God, He is all-knowing, He is omniscient. He is everything - the Alpha and the Omega - the beginning and the end. We are forgiven by the blood of His sacrifice. We are born into sin, with a sinful nature... I think it takes great courage to admit your failures and the areas that you struggle in. To readily show that you fail (because we all do). Your personal struggle will help another brother or sister in Christ to deal with their mistakes and sins.
I think one of the greatest examples of being simply human and sinning is King David. He was a man after God's own heart, but David sinned - he committed adultery and lusted and basically had a man murdered, and yet, David was one of the greatest men in the history of our faith. Jesus Christ was descended from the house of David; what an honor that had to have been.
As their teacher, I try to be an example for them to follow - scary, at times, but I really do try. I try to relate to them as teenagers, because I remember what it was like to be a teenager. I try to show them the importance of having responsibility, not just in their personal life at home, but at school. To take ownership in the place where they are educated, in the cleanliness of the rooms, in the order of the tables and chairs. It's important to me that they understand that nothing in this life is given to them. They have to work for what they want - and its important to take care of the things that belong to them. I try to show them about service, and having a servants heart, and being willing to help those around them, not being lazy. Diligence, and hard work, are vital parts of life and I wish that I could show them those things. I pray they know how to learn to manage their time, complete all of their work and not waste precious moments of the day by being lazy and unmotivated. There are times to laugh, goof off and enjoy each other but work comes first.
I don't know that I have succeeded in these objectives, but I sure have tried.
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