FORBIDDEN
January 08, 2020
Prayer: Oh Lord, we choose to honor You in all we do today. Please help us keep You before our eyes at all times.
Scripture: Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. I Peter 2:13, 15 NIV
This winter, the large puddle, now iced over, seemed to invite every child on the playground. Even with a spacious play area complete with modern play equipment and other activities galore, children were drawn to take a slide on the ice. Some would stay there for the entire recess period. Finally, seeing the danger to these eager children, the principal outlawed anyone from stepping on the ice. Even then, a teacher had to stand nearby to enforce the new rule. For some children, the new regulation made the ice even more appealing!
How is it that we all are drawn to the forbidden? Why do we balk when given a new regulation: an extra day in the school year’s teacher schedule, a call for plan book checks never before required, more paperwork tasks, new parking regulations which will make life more difficult, more minutes of non-teaching duties, a new teaching assignment, etc. We have all heard ourselves say, at least to ourselves, “They can’t make me!”
How should we as Christian educators respond to new disciplinary requirements? We certainly have the obligation to speak our minds when appropriate. However, once a new regulation goes into effect, while others may try to get around it or ignore it, we comply in order to please Christ and show His grace in our lives. Whether the rule benefits anyone, is irrelevant. Even in small matters, Christ will be honored in our lives when we obey and do the right thing.
Copyright Shirley Wilson. Email [email protected]