Skip to main content

Against Such Things There is No Law (Love in the Classroom)

By April 27, 2022SavED by Grace

Against Such Things There is No Law (Love in the Classroom)

By Karen C. Seddon

One of the most inspiring proofs of the power of the Holy Spirit in the Bible is in Acts 1:3-5 and Acts 2:1-4:

He (Jesus) presented Himself alive to them after His suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them (the 11 disciples) He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, He said, “You heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

Subsequently, Peter gave his famous Pentecost sermon, after which 3,000 new believers gave their hearts to Jesus. Of course, Peter had become a new man by this point. Prior to this, he was the most impetuous guardian of Jesus during the Lord’s ministry, then he fell to despair while denying the Lord three times. Who can rebound from such guilt and pain? Without the Spirit, no one. But at Pentecost, Peter was filled with the Spirit and was bold, articulate, and inspiring. Nothing could stop his desire to tell the Good News of our Savior Jesus Christ.

How do we display the Fruit of the Spirit in a public school classroom while honoring the laws of our great nation?  Have you ever noticed that the nine fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23,  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no laware really the fruit of the Spirit (singular)? When we truly live out our faith, all nine fruits are displayed as one. Wow, that’s a huge charge! Teachers who are living out their faith know that there are just too many of those days when we don’t feel so joyful or peaceful or even under self-control.  However, as Christians we are forgiven for our sins and convicted to repent quickly.  When we don’t display this fruit, we must acknowledge our shortcomings before God and by His Spirit be transformed. It’s no easy process and will certainly take us a lifetime, but at this time, I would like to take the classroom-eye view of what it looks like to LOVE in the classroom.

Love is powerful. It covers all sin. That student who gives us the most difficult time is loved by God too. Loving the unlovable is God’s way. Because we are ambassadors for our Lord, we look to Him. Who did He touch? — the untouchable. Who did He seek? — the lost. Who did He love? — the outcast. Our classrooms of America are filled with students who have never had a kind word, or a touch without strings attached, and many times suffer a life of difficulty. It’s not easy to love the unlovable, but that’s what we are called to do as Christian educators. What does love look like in the classroom? When we love our students, we serve them. We seek ways to enter into a personal relationship with them to truly get to know their needs in order to meet them. We all know how hard that is to do with classes that are too large or full of issues, but love always covers the mess. Loving our students means setting boundaries that are clear and consistent. Students always want to know the limits and will push them until the boundary is defined. 

Loving our students can also be a simple task of greeting them at the door as they come in. This small but powerful move, sets the stage of caring. One of my favorite teachers of all time greets his students at the door every day, every class period with a fist pump and the words, “Welcome home.” He is not suggesting that his classroom is a replacement for their homes and families, but it’s his way of letting his students know they are loved and they can trust him. Love is always displayed in unexpected ways. We all hunger for it, yet are often afraid to love. Be bold. Love your students with kind words, random acts of kindness, Pay It Forward initiatives, and smiling. Jesus loved the little children, and we may be the only touch of Jesus on some of the lives of these children. John 13:34 states, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” 

Peter was transformed by the Holy Spirit. As believers, we are also undergoing the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Ask God to help you live out this transformation of love for your school community. Look for a partner at school who desires to be an ambassador for the Lord also. It will be more exciting to share experiences and encourage each other in real time. After all, Peter was not alone. You are not alone either. There is no fear in displaying love. There is no law against such things. What school would not want educators who love their students, colleagues, and school community?

Please let us know other ways to display love in the classroom in the comment area. You are loved!

Karen C. Seddon is presently a retired educator serving in ministry through CEAI, Christian Educators Association International, to her public school brothers and sisters.  Karen’s 44 years in education include 25 classrooms (3rd-8th) and 19 years coaching teachers and students to integrate creative technologies. Her passion is to encourage, equip and empower educators to live out their faith in the public schools legally and gracefully. She is the voice of the Around the Word in 180 Days blog/podcast, author of two devotionals for educators and a prayer advocate for Christian Educators Association International.

AW 180 Days1:16 PMEmail