School starts this week and parents in the area are busy shopping and making sure their children have everything they need for the first day of the new academic year. Teachers are returning from vacations, putting together lesson plans and setting up their classrooms. Children are excited about new schools, new uniforms and new friends. Many are bored with summer and look forward to this day. Yes, it’s back-to-school time. Children are rested and ready to return with clean slates and high expectations.
Proverbs 22:6 instructs us to, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Back-to-school has always been a time of fresh starts. Maybe that’s why most young people get excited about it. But a lot of young people have been receiving spiritual instruction all summer. They’ve attended vacation Bible schools, taken part in church youth activities and had new experiences with Christ. They have been trained in the way they “should go” and now it’s time to “go.”
As young people return to their campuses, encourage them to hold onto the lessons and principles they’ve learned during the summer break. Tell them to hang onto the integrity of being a child of God. Most of our young people struggle with knowing they are different. But we can help them to understand that we are designed to be different. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
Our schools have wonderful teachers, principals, custodial staffers and administrators. Educators create excellent lesson plans and teach valuable information. But students must beware of criminal activity, fights, bullies, drugs and verbal abuse. Students always outnumber teachers, but a Godly presence makes all the difference.
As we near the school year, let’s encourage our young men and women to do God’s work. They can set examples in church on Sunday and in school on Monday. Obey the law of the land and have respect for those who rule over you. In other words, allow your behavior and example to be a lesson for others. Dedicate your life to serving God. It is back-to-school time, so let’s school those who are coming back!
Hayes is the pastor of New Day Outreach Ministry in Walthourville and a member of the United Ministerial Alliance.
Proverbs 22:6 instructs us to, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Back-to-school has always been a time of fresh starts. Maybe that’s why most young people get excited about it. But a lot of young people have been receiving spiritual instruction all summer. They’ve attended vacation Bible schools, taken part in church youth activities and had new experiences with Christ. They have been trained in the way they “should go” and now it’s time to “go.”
As young people return to their campuses, encourage them to hold onto the lessons and principles they’ve learned during the summer break. Tell them to hang onto the integrity of being a child of God. Most of our young people struggle with knowing they are different. But we can help them to understand that we are designed to be different. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
Our schools have wonderful teachers, principals, custodial staffers and administrators. Educators create excellent lesson plans and teach valuable information. But students must beware of criminal activity, fights, bullies, drugs and verbal abuse. Students always outnumber teachers, but a Godly presence makes all the difference.
As we near the school year, let’s encourage our young men and women to do God’s work. They can set examples in church on Sunday and in school on Monday. Obey the law of the land and have respect for those who rule over you. In other words, allow your behavior and example to be a lesson for others. Dedicate your life to serving God. It is back-to-school time, so let’s school those who are coming back!
Hayes is the pastor of New Day Outreach Ministry in Walthourville and a member of the United Ministerial Alliance.