Friday, March 21 ~ Imitating the Teacher

~~John 15:14
You are my friends if you do what I command you. 

~~In this scripture Jesus is sharing his final words of comfort to his disciples.  He has already washed their feet and had a meal with them.   Jesus has shared everything that he has learned from his Father with his disciples.  He has been God’s messenger and the disciples’ teacher.   He now sees his disciples as equals and refers to them as friends.  His command is to “love one another, as I have loved you”.   Jesus has passed on his teachings to his students and He is now asking the students to be the teacher.
We are all teachers.  We teach everyday by setting examples to others.  The acronym WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) says it all.  This acronym has lost popularity, but is still an excellent simple guideline for quick evaluation of any task in our life.  As a high school classroom teacher I had to frequently stop and evaluate what I was teaching.  Not core content or curriculum – that evaluation was commanded by another entity!  I had to evaluate my attitudes, judgments and general character to determine that they were characteristics that were worthy of imitation.  These self-checks did not always score well.   We all need to be aware that we are teachers as well as students and if what you are teaching scares you then ask yourself the question – “What would Jesus Do?”
We are to love as He loved.  He commanded it.  A command is not something you do when you feel like it!  He laid down His life for us.  This does not mean that He expects us to physically die for another.  Few of us would have the opportunity to do so and we could only do it once.  Caring for other’s needs, spending time giving back and just listening is laying down a part of our life that is ongoing and loving others as He loved us.   We all need love AND we all need TO love.  The rewards of the heart are incredible both ways. 
Kay Denniston