When the Teacher becomes the Student.
Growing up in the South (York, Alabama to be exact), it was customary to hear sayings such as "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," "actions speak louder than words," and the crucial lesson of "practice what you preach." Fundamentally, this means aligning your words with your actions, a concept that proves challenging yet essential. Have you ever pondered applying the principle of 'practice what you preach' to the realm of love? It may seem unrelated at first, but the essence of this practice embodies submission, servitude, honor, sacrifice; all conditions of love. Journey with me to explore the moment when the ultimate teacher humbled himself to become a student.
Genesis 1:26 NLT states, 'Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.'
In the account of creation, it is revealed to us that Jesus was intricately involved in the process when God declared, "Let us make human beings in our image." Subsequently, the New Testament, John I, reaffirms that Jesus, as the Word, existed with God from the beginning. Our Sovereign Lord, foreseeing our need for a savior, fixed His gaze upon us, recognizing that Adam, Abraham, Noah, David, nor Moses were sufficient. Thus, He came on the scene, not merely to instruct, but to show us what was required. His act of 'practicing what you preach' epitomizes becoming what is necessary. He, devoid of sin, assumed our sins so we could be redeemed (Selah). He became. Not just for the disciples, Jesus became for all of us. Jesus' love transcends time, extending to all generations, as exemplified by His ultimate sacrifice.
John 15:13 KJV Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Reflecting on personal experiences, there have been instances where I expected my family to adhere to standards that I failed to uphold myself. It was hypocritical to demand a clean sink while leaving dishes piled up or to advocate fasting while indulging in food. Why couldn’t I move with the same urgency as I required of others? If I'm truthful, a part of me felt justified in my actions, making excuses like “I always clean so I'll get to the dishes later. Your situations may not be like mine; but whatever yours may be, get them on your mind. The key here is you have to be honest with yourself.This discrepancy forced me to confront my own shortcomings and rationalizations. Acknowledging the need for self-examination, I realized I desperately needed to align my actions and my heart with the teachings of God's Word. This work demands honesty, humility, and a willingness to die daily.
Luke 9:23 KJV And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
In Luke 9:23, the call to deny oneself and take up the cross daily echoes the necessity of selflessness in living out God’s Word. By embracing a death to self, we set a precedent for others to follow, acknowledging the spiritual battle against pride and other hindrances. The adversary uses these devices daily, but we are not caught off guard. Just as Jesus personified humility and self-control, gentleness, patience, peace, kindness, faithfulness, love, and joy we are encouraged to emulate His godly character with the aid of the Holy Spirit. Through practicing what we preach, we embody the transformative power of submission and sacrifice, ultimately fulfilling the needs of those around us.
However, we often ignore the hindrances within. Pride, for example, is a restriction of process. Pride says, ‘I don’t have to do anything; I’m above that.’ Yet, we see our Savior humble himself and as much as he is one hundred percent God, he is also one hundred percent man. Jesus demonstrated great levels of self control, and with the help of the Holy Spirit so can we. Jesus is the greatest example of laying down one’s life and becoming what others need. He practiced what he preached constantly and consistently. He, The Teacher, became the student and submitted himself to the cross because there was a need and he fulfilled it!
Today, there exists a compelling need for you to lead by example and embrace a posture of humility and learning. Yes, You! You are a seed needing to be sown, therefore submit and commit to being planted, hidden in the word of God to grow and bear fruit. Each person has the potential to sow seeds of influence, impacting those who silently observe their actions. It is time for both the teacher and the student to coexist within us, fostering growth through selflessness and authenticity. Embrace the process of transformation, for in surrendering, you pave the way for renewal and inspiration in others. Go down so you can sprout up!
Shalom
Edited by: Melisha Anderson