I HEARD God’s calling for many years before I agreed to be a teacher. I thought for sure His call was for someone else – certainly not me. And, frankly, I was afraid.
It’s one thing to be taught, but to teach someone else? That’s an awesome responsibility, and I did not want to be judged so strictly. But once I heeded God’s calling, I felt a new kind of peace.
As good public servants, so many of us “teach.” If you supervise, you teach. If you train apprentices, you teach. If you’re an informal mentor to a new coworker, you teach. When an intern asks for advice, you teach. If you volunteer to help a nonprofit, chances are you teach someone something.
I have found that teaching is never a question of knowing more than anyone else; it’s a process of finding, well, a teachful way of explaining what you have learned. And this means the standards are higher for you and me.
As a Christian public servant, you and I also teach in another way. We are obligated to share the Gospel – including at work. Yet there is a sacred responsibility not to lead others astray when it comes to the Good News. And God is always calling you and me to be His teacher.
So today at work, work at being His teacher. In addition to helping others find workplace knowledge, find a teachful way to show them the Good News of Jesus Christ. Yes, you will be held at a higher standard, but you will also feel great peace in following His calling.
Don’t wait many years before you heed God’s calling to teach. Today at work, find a teachful way to show His ways!
Reading
James 3:1(b) (NIV) we who teach will be judged more strictly.
Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV) Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Prayer
Lord, I pray for wisdom and the ability to help my students learn to love learning and to love You. Help me find a teachful way to lead them to You. In Your name, I pray. Amen.
(Robertson School of Government at Regent University)
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