Teachers Who Make a Difference – Part 5
Today we continue in our series on teachers who make a difference. I believe this is the last one in this series. Congratulations, you made it to the end.
When I reflect on this lesson today, it will sting a bit, but we will dig in none the less.
God has given us another day. Take a moment now to breathe in Jesus and breathe out the stress of this world. Breathe in Jesus and breathe out the weight of this world. Breathe in Jesus, breathe out the burden of this world.
Ok, now that we have you breathing in Jesus, let’s look at some of what the Bible says.
There was another point on the behavior regarding the girl who wore two sets of shorts to school purposely.
This girl was dressing each day with the preconceived notion that she would be getting into trouble. There seemed to be no desire to change. One would have thought that after the first correction of behavior via the ten-pound paddle, she would have chosen as they used to say when I was a kid, “straighten up and fly right.” (whatever that meant).
Do you understand what I’m saying here? She made no effort to change. She invested plenty of energy to prevent pain, but in a way that would seem strange to you or me.
The way I see it is, she had two options or choices each morning. One option, apparently her preferred choice or so it seemed, was to wear multiple shorts anticipating and almost taunting the teacher. The other option was to make better choices that day. Clearly, from her behavior and track record, she chose the first option. It’s funny; I can still picture her face today.
When we become followers of Jesus Christ, we have choices to make. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, and the new has come.”
In Christ, the redeemed undergo a transformation that results in an entirely new being.
Ephesians 4:22- 24 says this, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Did you catch some key phrases there? Put off the old self, the old attitude, and put on the new self. In Christ, we are a new creation. In Christ, we should be striving to become more Christ-like every day. We will never be perfect like Christ, but we should be striving every day despite the temptations of the evil one and this world to clothe ourselves in more Christ-like qualities.
There’s a popular set of letters that you see, especially in Christian bookstores and events – WWJD – What Would Jesus Do?
Would Jesus deceive and take from people? Would he taunt people with the intent of getting into trouble or hurting someone or lie? What about watching something sexually immoral? The list goes on? I’m sure we can all add to the list immensely if we were truly honest with ourselves? There’s another – would Jesus be dishonest? If you study scripture in any way, shape, or form, the answers to all those questions are NO! If you have heard anything about Christ, you know he didn’t do those things.
Father, we are sinners. We make mistakes every day, although some purposely like my friend in the fourth grade. Father, sometimes we set out to do the wrong thing. We know its wrong, and we attempt to hide the wrong from everyone around us, and we think we have people fooled, but we have not fooled you. Forgive us today, Lord, and help us to start on the right foot today. Help us to feel that you are worth making an effort to change. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
Are You Choosing the Narrow Gate
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