I had a long talk with a teacher the other day (not our sweet Pastor Laura). Up front I need to say, teachers have a special place in my heart. I know three things about teachers.
First, teachers have the second most important and difficult job in society. (The first? Parenting).
Second, teachers don’t get paid what they are worth. Many begin teaching in debt with student loans from the years of college required and their beginning salary is a mere pittance. They usually must set up their classrooms out of their own pockets and often they supply what students need from their own resources.
The third thing I know about teachers … they love to teach. They must, otherwise they’d take their education and find much better paying jobs. Yes, I love teachers. I think they should get the big bucks.
Jesus was a great teacher. He, the Son of God, came for a specific purpose, to bridge the gap caused when mankind sinned and rebelled against its Creator. He died and rose to save us. But, Jesus also loved to teach. Read the Gospels and notice how often it says, “He opened His mouth and taught them.” [Matt 5:1-2 NKJV]
Not only did Jesus teach, He passed the job of teaching on to His disciples, to us, “Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” [Matt 28:18-20 NKJV]
Father, give us the heart of a teacher so that we might teach others of the love You have for us, the salvation that is available, and the duty of a grateful heart.
