If Christ Were A School Teacher

{The Winner of the Touching the Hem Book Giveaway is Jill’s Joyful Noise! Please email me your address at joyfilledmama@gmail.com and we’ll get that mailed out to you! Congrats!}

Have you ever thought what it would be like to attend a school taught by Christ? What must it have been like for those first disciples, learning from the Master, hearing for the first time those life-giving words of Christ?

The Pharisees talked about God, knew “about” God, but didn’t “know” God. Instead, they loved to promote themselves by keeping God’s laws super-strenuous and ever increasing. Knowing about someone is not the same as knowing Him.

But Christ, He was different than other religious rulers. His teachings sounded confusing and upside-downish.

I love one room schoolhouses. In fact, I went to kindergarten in this one room school house up the road from my parent’s house.

Today I am envisioning sitting in the school of Christ and listening as He speaks. He tells me to “learn of Him.” What does He want me to know?

He says “to those who will hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who abuse you.” (Luke 6:27)

I can hear myself, reasoning away His teaching; “Certainly, He cannot mean that I have to love that person. The one who tries to make my life miserable! He doesn’t understand all the trouble and hurt she’s caused.”

“Yes, even that person. Even your enemies.”

He continues,

“Give to everyone who begs from you, and from the one who takes away your goods, do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners and get back the same amount.

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be the sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:30-36)

Lord, you expect me to be a doormat? Doesn’t that sound rather naive? 

No, when you are my daughter, you’ll have my nature. You’ll inherit my kindness and concern for others. You’ll stop demanding your own way and rights. You’ll look outward to the bigger purpose for my coming to earth. My kindness attracts people to my Father. His grace drew you when you were ungrateful.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” (v. 40)

So, I sit at His feet, and learn of Him. He is meek and lowly in heart.

He serves and gives for the benefit of others, and it cost Him something.

He calls me into closer fellowship with His Father, telling me to abide, to trust His word, to suffer well, to keep myself from sinning, to live righteously in this present age, and to entrust myself to His Father. He encourages me to think of my real home, to remember that I am a sojourner here, to keep myself from the lusts of this world which are all going to dissolve and disappear and reminds me of what is lasting–Heaven.

And I walk away from His school with many choices.

I can forget all of his words, and not do them.

He asks, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not what I tell you?” (v 46)

Or I can compare myself to His words, looking into His mirror and seeing the need for change. I can beg for His grace and surrender my life to His goals for me. I can embrace His will as best.

Then, I have work to do. I can get busy obeying: doing good, loving evildoers,  putting away sin, putting on godliness, and taking on His agenda.

What are you learning this week? Feel free to chime in in the comments section and let me know.  Is Christ teaching you something that seems hard? What are you going to do with it? Let me encourage you to do what God’s word teaches you. Resisting His way when you are His child is simply disobedience. We sometimes think that obedience brings misery, but that’s not true. Obedience and compliance to the Father’s will brings joy.