“For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.” Romans 3:23-25
The students in a Lutheran School are all sinners. So are the teachers and the staff, and the congregation members. Even the pastors admit to being sinners. That is one reason I love to teach in a Lutheran school. I love to be with sinners who know they need a Savior. Children who can be led to recognize their selfish tendencies, self-centeredness, disrespect, or other “mistakes,” can then be led to the forgiveness only Christ can give … because He cares for each of us, sins and all.
Teaching in a Lutheran school for over thirty years has been a labor of love. Circumstances have not always been terrific, but I have been privileged to work on staffs with fellow Christians who have shown Christ’s love every day. We are not working for ourselves, but doing the work we believe Jesus wants us to do. The atmosphere of support and love shown to each other makes going to “work” a happy thing. When we hear parents and visitors to our school express their observation that there is “something different here,” we know what they mean. The work is tiring, the “sinners” have their bad and crazy days, equipment breaks and resources are sometimes lacking, but Jesus is here.
When I see teachers who sacrifice their own time to help a student make significant progress, I see Christ’s love in action. By God’s grace, teachers and staff have the opportunity to offer mercy and love in Jesus in all kinds of circumstances. Students on the playground, for example, give lots of opportunities to share the love of Jesus, and to teach His ways: arguments and conflicts can be worked out with guidance from caring teachers who can use Law and Gospel to resolve problems. The Word of God stands behind our discipline, our care and our lives. And that’s why I love serving in a Lutheran school.
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