JESUS SPEAKING
“A disciple is not above his master (teacher), but everyone who is properly taught will be like his master” (Luke 6: 40.)
INSPIRED THOUGHTS
In the bible, God is referred to as “the most high,” because elevation is how human beings distinguish between what is valuable and invaluable. People honor things by lifting them up. In ancient times, when a king stepped down from his thrown and stood at ground level with his subjects, those subjects would lower themselves beneath him; many would bow, others would kneel. If the king was a child, then his subjects would sprawl out face first on the ground to make sure the king stood above them. The teacher and student relationship is quite similar (as Jesus said, “A disciple is not above his teacher”.) The disciple, or student, must realize his or her lack of knowledge (they lower themselves); the teacher then becomes the superior source of necessary information. In exchange for their humility and ability to learn, the disciples were promised that they would become like Jesus. Anyone who lacked this type of humility could not be a follower of Jesus then, and cannot be His follower today. A person who believes they have a better way, or who desires to learn from sources other than the Lord, cannot be properly taught.
A long time ago, I was caught in a dilemma. I remember calling up a friend for advice on a situation that had made me absolutely furious. In the middle of the conversation they said, “What would Jesus do?” I tried to shrug it off, and replied something like, “Well, He’s Jesus, I can’t be like Him.” However, the question cut deep into me; the answer to how to react to the situation wasn’t debatable; rather, it had a face, and a name, and that name was Jesus Christ. I was not called to behave in my own way, but to behave like Him. After all, a disciple is someone who is a student and follower of their teacher.
If you are a believer, then you as well are called to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. How does that process begin for you? First, you must humble yourself and lift Him up. Jesus Christ must become the moral authority in your life. Get rid of any competing teachers, and make His words the foundation upon which your life and your actions are built. Bible reading is essential. Commit some of your time daily to the study of His words. The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the book of Revelation contain His spoken words and descriptions of His behavior; only by knowing your teacher can you be properly taught; and only by humbling yourself before the living God can you become His disciple.
“Lord Heavenly Father, we come before You and we ask to become Your disciples. We lift up Your Son and we ask that He become our teacher. Jesus, speak to us in our hearts, and mold us and shape us into Your image. Remind us of all of the words that You have spoken, and fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that we may minister to all those You place in our path. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!
Jesus Speaks 