JESUS - A GOOD TEACHER

Jesus is an excellent teacher and appeals to us to learn from him. An invitation that any student of the Word should be eager to accept. This was an invitation I first heard when I was young, so the question I need to ask myself after all this time is “Have I learned from Christ?” 

Do I still waste time and energy getting involved in futile disputes, am I gracious when people disagree with me. Do I try to put myself forward in place of others? These are good questions to ask, for the Bible does say, “let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1 Cor 11:28).

If I want to partake in the goodness of Christ, I have to let Christ’s nature grow within me. If I have not grown, if I have not learned over the years what Christ’s Spirit has to teach me, then how can I be profitable to my fellow brothers and sisters?

If I am still needing baby food and not maturing in the humility, mercy and the love of Christ, how can I help myself, let alone other people?

Paul spoke sharply to the Corinthian church: “I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?” (1 Cor 3:2–3). 

Jesus’s bid for us to “learn from me” had been neglected by the church at Corinth. And one thing is for sure, we must grow in Christ. Students will have tests throughout their academic year, and perhaps in a similar way we also get tests, to see how we are progressing in our efforts to learn from Christ. 

“Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind” (Ps 26:2).

The Lord’s desire is that we learn from him, because our natural sinful instincts are opposed to his love, grace and holiness. The tests and trials that we face are sometimes allowed by the Lord because they reveal where our state of growth has reached. 

God wants us to be holy because he is holy. How can two have fellowship unless they are agreed? 

The Lord is gracious to us, even through our many mistakes, falls and failures when tempted. But at some point we have to start moving forward in God’s kingdom, we ought to be taking ground that the enemy wants.

“Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food! For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil” (Heb 5:12–14). 

Help us grow oh God, in a way that pleases you.