Last Friday I told a story that happened in the first school I taught
at. After two years at this school, the entire French Immersion program was
transferred to a different building, where the school was shared between an
all-French school for French-Speaking students and all of the local French
Immersion students in the city. The French Immersion program was also
expanded that year. Where entry into French Immersion with this school board
had been in Grade 7, it was now lowered to Grade 5. Suddenly, the students I
was teaching in Grade 7 were no longer new to French.
I spent several years at this particular school before the French
Immersion program was moved once again, this time to share a school with
English-speaking students. During the time we were with the French-speaking
students, I had a visit from some of my former students, who were now in
High School. These three girls came at noontime saying they wanted to talk
to me. They were so animated that it was a wonder they didn't burst with
excitement. When we were finally alone, they could wait no longer: "We
accepted Jesus!" they cried. They were so happy. "We will always follow
Jesus now! He is our friend!" One of the girls even said she hoped to become
a missionary one day.
That had to have been one of the best days of my life. My students all
knew I was a Christian, but because this was a public school and talking
about God in the classroom was strictly prohibited, I was unable to talk
about God freely. Nonetheless, by always asking God into every situation, by
always being open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, these students felt
there was something different in my classroom, something that they were
drawn to; and in the end, they realized that they also wanted that
"something different" for themselves! It made me so happy to know that
somehow, even in a public school, I had been able to influence some of my
students for the Lord. God is so amazing!
We are not all called to preach; but we are all called to shine for
Jesus. We can do that by talking about our faith, yes. But even in
situations where this is prohibited, when we invite God into our workplaces,
we will shine for Him in a way that will draw others to Him.
Would you like the experience the best day of your life? Invite God
into your workplace. Pray for your co-workers, rely on His Spirit for wisdom
and direction, and mostly, shine for Him in everything you do. It won't be
long before some of your co-workers will also begin to want what you have in
Christ! Remember: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot
be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket.
Instead, they set it on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone in the
house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see
your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven…" (Matthew 5:14-16 NIV)
In His love,
Rob Chaffart