The Master Teacher

I was sitting at school the other day marveling at the wonder of being a teacher. There is just nothing like it! We have a little 3rd grader who has been with us since 1st grade, and I was marveling at how much she has changed and grown and matured, even since last year. Last year at this time I was ready to pull my hair out because of this child; this year is so different! Last year I thought, "I will NEVER see the light at the end of this tunnel! This child is impossible!" This year, while we have had our moments, there is evidence of growth! Last week I gave my first piano lesson. What a thrill to be able to teach little fingers how to dance (ok, maybe move is more accurate at this point :) ) across the keys! :) So, the practicing gets hard on the ears sometimes, but those little fingers need to start somewhere! One day, they will produce beautiful music! ;)

It got me to thinking about the Master Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ. I thought about how frustrated I can get inside because the kids just don't "get it" when I want them to, and I have to keep repeating myself repeating myself over and over again until they get the point. But then I look at them a few months or a year later and I see vast improvements, and I realize that it is worth sticking with it to see those little minds grow and mature! I realized how tempting it is to either throw in the towel or become impatient with the kids. But then I think of Jesus, and how patient of a Teacher He is! He never becomes tired of me and throws in the towel. He is always standing there, patiently, teaching me how to be more like Him. I realize just how stubborn and sinful a student I am! Thank God for His patience!

The other thing that occurs to me as I think of the Master Teacher is the verse that basically says, "But a student will be like his teacher." I am to emulate Christ in my life, as He is my Teacher. Yet, what kind of a teacher am I? Am I the kind of teacher that will not be ashamed to say, "That's my student!"? What kind of students am I producing? Paul speaks in Phil. 2 about the walk of the Philippians, "that I may say that I have not run in vain, nor labored in vain." Am I a teacher worth following? Sobering thought!

One of my favorite quotes is, "God can bestow no greater privilege upon you, than to place His Book in your hands and call you 'teacher.'" Well put, indeed! In Sunday School we have started teaching the book of Ezra (with great hopes to teach Nehemiah as well :) ). It is absolutely fascinating to study, and it was so neat this morning to see little eyes and ears listening intently. In two weeks we are going to talk about the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) and we are going to build our own booths. It should be fun and educational! :)

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being the patient Master Teacher, and thank you for the privilege of being a teacher myself! :)

alc