Jimbo's Jots

This past week, I’ve had the chance to interact with the teaching staff at Oakland Christian School as a part of their teacher inservice. The campus ministers introduced the theme of the year for each area: Elementary – Bold as a Lion (Proverbs 28:1) and Middle School/High School – Testify (2 Timothy 1:6-14).

As I read through Paul’s letter to Timothy, I was drawn to verse 6: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” More specifically, the phrase “which is in you”.

So, as a staff, we looked at what it means to have God in you. I presented then, for one of the sessions, that in order to be able to “testify” or “be bold as a lion”, we begin by having a clear understanding of who we are and whose we are.

1. We are created by God (Psalm 139:13-14) – the Psalmist gives a clear picture that God formed us and knows our “inward parts”. God knows the very heart of us because He made us. As you read through the creation story, God spoke everything in to existence, except for mankind. Each person is formed by God himself!
2. We are created to be used by God (Ephesians 2:10) – I love Eugene Peterson’s interpretation of this: “He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work He does, the good work He has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” So, not only does God create us with His very hands, He has work for us to do!

We are people and we have a purpose! As our kids start school, let them know that God will use them each day. And maybe we need to be reminded of this as well!!

Be blessed and be a blessing!!