Paul, Joy, Leadership

One of the main responsibilities I have with my 5th and 6th grade class is both to model Christ to them and to teach them to love Christ, and in so doing, know how to serve him. It's such a huge and overwhelming task! We were going through 2 Philippians today specifically to talk about considering others above yourselves and about not complaining. I read the opening verses with just new personal insight, though. Paul asks the Philippians church to be like-minded and love one another to "make [his] joy complete" and asks them not to complain so that he would not have '"labored in vain." Bam! The feeling with which he made those statements just struck me so forcibly. I am sure that parents and pastors and others in like situations feel the impact of these verses, but I had never before. Now I have this class of students, and as sinners and children, they complain, argue and bicker. And I know how deeply I want to see them grow in Christ and how much joy I would have to see them loving and serving each other in a Christ-like manner more and more. Paul, while recognizing the strengths of the Philippians wants them to abound more and more. And that is my prayer and hope for my class. Partly, I think it is such a difference for me now to be on the leading and giving end in the classroom, as opposed to the recieving end. It's such a blessing, though. Praise God!