New opportunities and new beginnings have definitely been the theme of my summer. As stated in previous posts, I have recently moved from a Technology Integration Specialist position from a public school district over to the same position in a Christian School System. My first opportunity to meet with newly hired teachers happened this week as my coworker and I introduced them to many of the technology tools and opportunities that are available to them. Keeping God at the forefront, I was honored to be able to present the morning devotional to begin the technology training. I would like to share that devotional with you and pray that it is an encouragement to Christian educators out there whether you teach in a Christian campus or a secular campus. A huge shout out to my good ministerial friends who helped give me some guidance and references. Thank you James Witmyer and Shaun McCubbin.
Exodus 31:1-5
Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.
This is one of the first instances in scripture where we hear of God referring to someone being filled with the Spirit, which guides us in our daily life. In this example, God empowered those men with the gifts of construction with various materials and tools of the time, to build that which He was commanding them to do. Remember, one definition of technology is this – the sum of the ways in which social groups provide themselves with the material objects of their civilization. (Dictionary.com)
As the Holy Spirit guides us to be Spiritual and Holy, God also empowers us with the gifts, resources, and the opportunities to Glorify Him. Each of us are Gifted to be Teachers. We are Provided with the resources needed. And the Classrooms are full of Opportunities. The tagline in the email signatures and on on our school website states that we provide – “education with a Higher purpose.” That higher purpose is to glorify God and empower our students. Our school’s mission statement is taken from Luke 2:52, “to develop students with a heart for God, who grow as Jesus did in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man.”
In the role that I serve, technology is that tool that we are here to use to our fullest extent and encourage the teachers to use to their fullest potential in order to help our students be successful in the classroom whether that be through digital curriculum, ways to work more efficiently, or through God honoring research and multimedia activities and projects.
So, how do we use technology to glorify God and to grow in wisdom, stature, and favor? With anything our culture uses, we can either receive it, reject it, or redeem it. With technology, we must see how powerful a tool it is and that power can be used for good or evil. Therefore, as servants of Christ, to empower our students, we should as Matthew 10:16 states be as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves when we use technology.
With this being said, we should not legalistically reject technology simply because of its potential for evil, nor should we blindly receive technology because of its potential for good.
The primary way we should use technology is by WISELY redeeming technology for Christ – ultimately bringing glory to God. We can do this in a variety of ways, but one way is that we grab a student’s attention to keep them engaged in our lessons both in academic content and spiritual training. Technology has so much potential as a method in sharing the message of Christ whether you be in a public or a private school situation.
My encouragement to you is:
- Don’t be afraid of technology. Allow your colleagues or tech integration staff to work with you to make yourself comfortable with it. Ask for help and be willing to step out of your comfort zone. Try new ideas that are shared with you.
- Pray about ways you can bring lessons to life using the tools at hand much like those workers in Exodus did with the materials they were given through the leading of the Spirit.
Continue enjoying the rest of your summer and my prayers are with you as you begin preparing your heart for your upcoming group of students in the coming weeks. God bless. May He bless you with “tech imaginations” beyond your expectations!
Susan – @sv314dws
