For many teachers, the start of each school year is the most anticipated time. It is a chance to start fresh. Introduce new learning approaches and establish a strong foundation for the year. However, it is possible to lose track of the significance of our role and the reasons we chose this path. Let's take a look at the passage in Genesis 1:26-27:

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

The classroom is our dominion. We are there to cultivate, run, and manage everything that goes on in there. Yet, unlike the dominion over animals, birds, plants, or livestock, ours involves guiding other human beings. That means we have a special job because of the people we serve.

These children are not simply obstacles to overcome to reach our objectives. They are our end goal and they have been made with the same inherent purpose that every person was made with. Each person is made with the spark of the divine. When we structure our lessons, rules, and classroom structure around this idea, that it is the student that matters, then we can choose to do what is best for them.

The true aim isn't ease for us, but the empowerment of every student, even the ones who may be the most challenging, or those who might prefer to coast unnoticed in the crowd, to realize their potential and grow closer to the people God needs them to be.

Reflection Questions

1. How does the understanding that each student is made in God's image influence your interactions with them this week?
   
   

2. Consider a student you find particularly challenging. How might viewing them as someone created with the 'spark of the divine' shift your perspective or approach?
   
   

Prayer

Take a moment to pray for the students who may be struggling to see their own value.

Pray for God to give you the wisdom and patience to see each student with immense worth and potential.