MY KIND OF TEACHER

Don’t forget to pray.

Scripture: 1 John 5:11-12 (NIV) ¹¹ And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 
 

I don’t know if you saw the following story about an Ex-marine Corps Sergeant who took a job as a teacher in a very difficult part of the city. He would be dealing with some of the toughest students in the school and decided to impress them with how tough an ex-marine corps sergeant could be. The story follows:

A former Sergeant, having served his time with the Marine Corps, took a new job as a school teacher, but just before the school year started, he injured his back.

He was required to wear a plaster cast around the upper part of his body. Fortunately, the cast fit under his shirt and wasn't noticeable. On the first day of class, he found himself assigned to the toughest students in the school.

The punks, having already heard the new teacher was a former Marine, were leery of him and decided to see how tough he really was before trying any pranks. Walking confidently into the rowdy classroom, the new teacher opened the window wide and sat down at his desk.

When a strong breeze made his tie flap, he picked up a stapler and promptly stapled the tie to his chest. There was dead silence.  He had no trouble with discipline that year.

Note: Being a good teacher is not easy. Many refer to teaching as a calling because of the dedication it requires. Often those you are trying to teach are not interested and don’t take seriously their need to learn. The greatest teacher who has ever lived found this to be true. His students, like many in classrooms today, would rather stay in the darkness of ignorance than to move into the light of truth. They too were a rebellious group, many considered hard core in their opposition to the subject being taught and to the One doing the teaching. Because this is a devotional I’m sure you know the teacher I am referencing is Jesus Christ. But what you may not know is one of the most important lessons He taught while here on the earth was the lesson about eternal life.

The New Testament has a number of examples of people who wanted to know about eternal life. Individuals came to inquire about this subject often. A large group of people who were miraculously fed wanted to know about eternal life. Rabbi’s, rulers and legal experts wanted to know about eternal life and what they must do in order to have it.

When you need answers to life’s greatest questions you need to go to the One who knows the answers. There is only One who has the right answers. He is the creator of all we see around us including humankind. He is the author and sustainer of life, His name is Jesus Christ. He is not only the God-man; He is also the greatest teacher that has ever lived. So what does He say about what we must do to have eternal life? His Words are recorded for us in John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

This verse reveals to us that eternal life is more than an endless existence. Eternal life is to know God the Father and the only way for us to know Him is to know His Son, Jesus Christ. If you want to have the assurance of eternal life you must have a personal intimate knowing relationship with Christ, the author of life. What does it mean to know Christ? It means to believe that He is who He says He is. He is the One and only Savior of the world. It means that you see yourself as a sinner doomed to die and you are willing to confess your sins, asking God to forgive you, and to fully entrust your life to Christ. It means that you are willing to die to self and your old way of living and want to spend your life serving God in obedience to His will. It means you realize there is no eternal life, no hope apart from a relationship with Him. Jesus declared, "…I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; ²⁶ and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”  He then asked the most important questions ever asked of anyone; “Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26) The answer to this question is the answer to the question about eternal life. “Yes” is to know God the Father and to know Christ and to have eternal life. “No” is death and eternal separation; “No” is Hell now and it continues into eternity.

Jesus didn't staple a tie to His chest in order to get the world’s attention. He did something for more profound…He allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross.

Word from the Lord: Beloved, I have come to give you understanding of those things written about in My Word. The lessons I am teaching you are the same as the ones I taught to your forefathers. Some of them took My teachings to heart and turned to Me for the gift of life and I gave them the gift of righteousness. Many rejected My teachings and continued in the way of unrighteousness. All of the Old Covenant teachings concerning Me found their fulfillment in My coming. Because I now dwell in your hearts I can give you greater understanding of the things I desire you to do, things that will lead you to being able to have a growing and knowing relationship with Me, a relationship that leads to eternal life. What I am revealing to you is true. See Me as your Savior God and because you know Me, you know the one and only true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)    

Did the Lord speak to you today?  Why not write it down and claim it for His Glory. 

Prayer:  What do you need to pray to the Lord today? Listen to your heart. He loves you!