Back to School
”Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
In yesterday’s devotion, we looked at how God places responsibility on parents for their children’s education in God’s Word. However, if we look at the most basic definition of Christian education – teaching others about Christ – we can see from our text that all Christians have the great responsibility and wonderful privilege of sharing God’s message of salvation with others. Jesus encourages not only His disciples but all of us to share His Word with “all the nations . . .teaching them observe all things that I have commanded you.” We Christians, then, are the teachers, and the world is our classroom.
Many of us, though, may feel unqualified to teach God’s Word to others. Isn’t that the job of well-trained pastors and teachers? How will I come up with the right thing to say? What if I say something wrong? Fortunately, God gives us examples in the Bible of teachers who would seem unqualified to themselves or to their contemporaries. For instance, Moses, the great leader of the children of Israel, did not feel qualified for his position because of his ability to speak. Also, the very disciples that Jesus is speaking to in our text were not well-educated scholars but men of humble “blue-collar” backgrounds.
So, where do we get the confidence to become Christian educators, ready to teach God’s Word to all people at all times and in all places? We have to recognize that it is the Holy Spirit that converts people to faith through God’s Word, not through our own eloquence or skill. Furthermore, while we can and should prepare ourselves by studying God’s Word on our own and taking advantage of learning opportunities in church and Bible classes, God will also provide us the words: “for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (Matthew 10:20).
Jesus, please provide us the confidence and knowledge to share the gospel with all. Amen.