Reflection is a good thing (2 Corinthians 13:5). We pause and stand back and think about what we have done. We ask ourselves, "Are we putting forth a good effort? Are we doing everything for the right reasons? Are our intentions becoming reality? Are we reaching our goals? Are we doing good?"
Reflecting on our Bible teaching is no different. Any of the above questions could be asked of our Bible teaching. Are we putting forth a good effort each and every teaching moment? Perhaps we should ask, are we doing the very best that we can at teaching, every time we teach? Are we getting better with every lesson?
Are we teaching to be seen of men? Are we teaching because it will look good on a resume at some later time? Are we teaching because we see that there is a need to teach? Are we winning souls? Proverbs 11:30 tells us that there is wisdom in winning souls, cultivating that soil or heart with good, unforgettable Bible lessons. Bible teachers do not "teach to the test," but, rather, they teach for life--a better life in this world and a better life to come.
We all have good intentions, don't we? We intend to prepare our Bible lessons a few days before our class time instead of a few hours before class begins. We intend to study well, but life gets in the way. We intend to arrive fifteen to twenty minutes before class begins to physically prepare our class, but somehow time seems to vanish. Are we working diligently for those intentions or others to become reality? Prayerfully and hopefully, yes.
How about our teaching goals? Do we review why we are teaching and striving to reach those goals that we have set before ourselves? Are we determined to find a way to help productively teach those who we teach? Are we praying as we teach? Jesus said that all we need to do is ask and it shall be given to us (Matthew 7:7, 8). Do we believe what He says? Are we a praying Bible teacher?
Are we doing good as it says in Galatians 6:10? Are we looking to Jesus as our example (Acts 1:1)? Are our eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2)? Are we looking and praying for opportunities to do good and then doing it? Let us always "be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Let us remember why we teach God's Word.