|
(Ecclesiastes 12:11) The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails--given by one Shepherd.
God, we love you.
God, we thank you.
<Body>
May is the month of family. Today is the third Sunday in May, so-called ‘Teacher’s Sunday.’ The 15th day of May is Teacher’s Day.
I appreciate your serving me as a teacher, because I know I don’t derserve it. I have been so happy for your serving me as a teacher or a spiritual father. I really thank all of you for this. May our God remember your good deeds and repay them with his Grace and blessing.
Let me give you a realistic story. There is few teachers in the modern contemporary world.
Basically, school teachers are our teachers in life. But, the students and the parents are not accepting the teachers’ authority. We are witnessing the era of no authority at school.
In old days, father and/or mother became children’s teachers. They taught kids with ‘Three Bonds and Five Disciplines’ among the moral ethics of Confucianism and made them morally correct and socially acceptable.
But, there is no moral guide for children at home, recently. Parents lead the children to act for their benefits in everything: which makes them selfish. These children do not obey their parents after adolescence. They are so selfish that they do everything in the ways they want to do. Parents do not know how to control their children and they cannot win them. Teachers at school also give up children, saying that they cannot lead them.
It is all because the parents indulge their children too much. Some of them come to realize their wrongdoings as they grow up or after many failures and pains in life. But, most of them cannot change their attitudes, since they don’t recognize what goes wrong with them. Since their minds got so hardened already, they cannot think correctly or look out for others. Their selfishness and stubbornness make their lives tough and painful throughout their lives.
Only the Holy Spirit can heal these kinds of persons. Holy Spirit can help them: ⑴ realize that they have lived wrong lives; ⑵ know that they are the worst sinner of all; ⑶ pray for repentance and restitution; ⑷ deny themselves; ⑸ carry their own crosses (know their missions); and ⑹ follow Jesus, hear the Words of Jesus and tame themselves to his Words.
(Romans 6:6) For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin
(Ephesians 2:22-4) [22] 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; [23] to be made new in the attitude of your minds; [24] and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
(Colossians 3:5-10) [5] Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. [6] Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. [7] You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. [8] But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. [9] Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices [10] and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Then, we call these cases as the return of the prodigal sons. They may have been reborn by the Spirit.
(John 3:5) Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
(1 John 5:6) This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
1. Put Jesus as Your Teacher on Mind
Jesus is the only teacher who can save your soul and give eternal life. If you live by his Words, you can enjoy the peace and expect the eternal life.
(John 14:6) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Every religion has a teacher. For example, Confucianism regards Confucius as a teacher. Likewise, Budda is the teacher in Buddhism and Mohamed is the teacher in Muslim.
In Christianity, Jesus is the only teacher in soul and mind. All the Christians must realize the teachings of Jesus and live by his Words.
2. Put Your Pastor as a Teacher on Mind
A pastor must:
⑴ straighten your religious life;
⑵ direct your church life;
⑶ advise your family life;
⑷ consult your social life;
⑸ lead your spiritual life;
⑹ correct your personalities;
⑺ guide your personal lives;
and ⑻ coach your marriage lives.
It is God’s blessing that we meet a pastor who we can learn a lot from and who can guide us correctly in life.
3. There are so many merits to put a teacher on your mind.
1) Raising the probability to win in life
Inexperienced people tend to risk many fails in life. Lessons by a right teacher can hedge the risk and raise the possibility to succeed in life.
2) Reckless ventures raise the risk to lose
Making judgments without teacher may strengthen your own arbitrariness: which inevitably raises the risk to lose in everything. Surely, failure brings you so much pain. To avoid it, take the coaching and lessons from a success maker.
Quite the opposite, you must avoid the losers’ guidance in life, including marriage, business, job selection and so on. You reap whatever you sow. If you follow the loser’s way, the rest of your days will be painful.
Who is your teacher now? Yourself? Your friend? Or Jesus?
<Conclusion>
Teachers’ sayings are usually soft but sometimes they are tough. They are as painful as a surgery scalpel to sting and cut the wounds without anesthesia. Man is an animal to correct his way immediately when the teachings are firm and strong. They tend to ignore the tender words.
(Ecclesiastes 12:11) The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails--given by one Shepherd.
Sometimes the Word of God makes us painful.
(Hebrews 4:12) For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
When we hear his Word, it penetrates our hearts even to making them painful. Indeed, it makes us repent and new persons thereafter. Without these pains, we cannot be reborn Christians God expects us to be. To those who he loves, God lashes, gives realization and fixes.
(Hebrews 12:6) because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.
All Christians must prepare for his disciplines which are the keys to his blessings and eternal life. Without his discipline and punishment, no one can be reborn. Whenever you see a weakness in your family member, tell him it right away so that he can be reborn soon. That is the quickest way for him to correct his way in the eyes of the LORD.
Keep a teacher close to you. Your spouse or parents will be fine. Take their advises and correct your ways. You will be a different person soon. Put Jesus as your teacher on mind. Put a good pastor as your teacher on mind. Put a success maker as your teacher on mind.
Hallelujah!
|