Be Like Your Teacher

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone, when fully trained will be like his teacher. Luke 6:40

It’s easy to understand that, as followers of Jesus, we aren’t above Him. Yet, when we’ve been fully trained, we will be like Jesus as co-heirs with Him.

This is double sided though, because while being trained by Jesus will result in you being like Jesus, if you are submitting yourself to be trained under anyone else, guess who you’re going to be like?

Called to Holiness

God has called us to be holy in our conduct just as the One who has called us is holy, and this process of sanctification, being transformed into the image of Jesus from one degree of glory to another is achieved through the lifelong training that we’ll go through here on earth. This process is the work of the Holy Spirit in us, but we have the part of following our Teacher through our training by abiding in Him through His word.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the [person] of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16-17)

Sharing in Suffering

In our training and in becoming more like our Teacher Jesus, we also share in His sufferings, but we also share in comfort too through Him (2 Corinthians 1:5). If we follow the One who was persecuted, we need to be prepared to be persecuted and face various trials that will test the genuineness of our faith, knowing that in the end if we endure it will result in the praise, glory, and honor of Jesus. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

As you face trials in your life, keep focused on your Teacher and be encouraged that the One guiding you has overcome the world and is the founder and perfecter of your faith, will bring that good work in you to completion. (John 16:33; Hebrews 12:1-2; Philippians 1:6)

A Disciplined Child

Not all the things we consider bad in our lives are trials, some is discipline. If Jesus, the only perfect person to ever walk this earth, learned obedience through the things He suffered, we even more need to learn it. And we do so through the loving, disciplining hand of our Father. (Hebrews 5:7-8)

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?…For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:5-7,11)

Whether trial or discipline, we learn to endure just as Jesus endured. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (Hebrews 12:3) We aren’t alone in experiencing the trials of training, we have a great cloud of witnesses that we’re surrounded by, and we need to run our race with endurance knowing that in the end, we will reach being fully trained because Jesus will get us there. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Resemblance, Not Resistance

Don’t kick against the goad, if God has you in an intense trial, this is part of your training. Don’t resist it, learn from it, and embrace the fact that you’re being refined and sanctified, and it’s all part of getting you to being fully trained where you’ll be like your Teacher, Jesus. One of the hardest times to rejoice is through intense trials and suffering, and yet that is the time to rejoice in the God of your salvation, of Whom the joy of will be your strength.

If you’re in a trial right now, my heart simultaneously feels compassion and excitement for you. Compassion because I know trials are hard, push you to your limits, and if it weren’t for the grace of God could crush you, but I feel excited for you because it means you’re in the process of completing another level of glory. As you learn and grow through this, you’re looking more and more like Jesus, my friend, and that is beautiful! Follow Him, submit to your training, and be encouraged that He will bring you to completion.