Jesus’ Name… On the Board
Humility before God doesn't come naturally—certainly not without the Holy Spirit's prompting. It is easy to see this in a classroom full of first graders!
“My son tells me every day, as soon as he gets in the car, who got their name on the board!” The mother laughed. She added that their family was saying extra prayers for a certain repeat offender they heard about often.
This mother wasn't alone. Several parents shared with me the thrill their children expressed in telling the family who got their name on the board in class that day. It was always children who had not gotten their names written. These children were doing more than relaying school events. In essence, they were doing what I have done in my own life. They were telling their loved ones, “I'm so good. Look at all the people who are worse than me!”
It is so common for humanity to look for someone we consider worse with whom to compare ourselves. Romans 3 doesn't give us that option though, and as more and more of my students' parents shared their daily reporting patterns, I realized I needed to do something about this.
The next day, when one of my “regulars” got his name on the board, several of the “reporters” gloated, and I immediately wrote their names as well.
“Hey!” Some of them shouted. “I didn't do anything!”
I wasn't done. I wrote the name of every student on the board, and then wrote my own name MRS. STOERMER in bold letters at the top of the list.
Now I had everyone's attention. “Even if you don't get your name on my board, everyone one of us has our name on God's board. Everyone. Sin is anything you think, say, or do that displeases God and disobeys His word. Even stuff no one sees. Even stuff you never get caught for. We're all in trouble.” I read them Romans 3:10, There is none righteous, not even one. I explained that, just because someone didn't regularly (or ever) get their name on the board at school didn't mean they were perfect or clear in God's sight. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). I shared Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I went on to Second Corinthians 5:21 with them: God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God. “When Jesus paid the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross and rising again”—I erased all their names (and mine) off the board and wrote JESUS CHRIST instead—“He was punished instead of you, and instead of God's anger being on you, He let it be on Jesus. Because He did that, His blood will wash away all your sins if you will believe on Him. You can have His forgiveness and eternal life!” I shared Acts 16:31, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved... and I asked them to think about this. I told them they could talk to me if they wanted, but it was even better if they talked to their parents, as each child had godly parents who would be thrilled to share the Gospel with their child.
After that day, several of the children in that class came to me (or their parents did) and shared that they placed their faith in Christ for salvation! Another byproduct of that talk was that no one bragged about never getting their name on the board. They knew they were all guilty, and all needed God's grace. I am so thankful for the opportunity to impart the Gospel to children at PCA, and let the Lord use these truths in lives!
Janelle Stoermer
First Grade Teacher
