September 4, 2020 | Dan Low

The arrival of fall marks the beginning of school. Yet we know that this new academic year is unlike any other. Instead of heading to campus, walking into classrooms, sharing lunch with friends, and participating in extracurricular activities, most students are continuing to learn from home. We appreciate and applaud our teachers, staff, parents, and especially our resilient students, who are all adapting to online education. What was once the exception has now become the rule.

Under the influence of God’s Spirit, Paul engaged in distance education. While he always preferred in-person instruction, the apostle never squandered his God-given opportunities. And he endeavored to foster that same mindset with his dear friends. In the second verse of the second chapter of his second letter to Timothy, Paul pens one of my all-time favorite verses: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

This single verse prompts us to consider our own educational approach with the gospel. OUR ROLE AS STUDENTS: What have we learned from others about the promise of life that’s in Christ Jesus? OUR PRIVILEGE AS TEACHERS: Who are the dependable and competent people that we can trust with God’s sacred truth? OUR VISION AS MENTORS: How can we contribute to the success and impact of their teaching?

With our students returning to mostly virtual classrooms, from preschool through grad school, the Bible reminds us that class is always in session. God teaches us to keep pushing forward in our knowledge of Jesus by his Word and through his Spirit. Let’s maximize every day we receive from God by giving him our undivided attention.