Which Role Will You Choose?

This year has some of us taking on roles we never would have chosen. My husband who, before COVID, thought Zoom was only something you did on the interstate, has actually attended a video meeting. Families who'd never considered growing more than restless, started their own gardens and reaped fresh and frugal meals without leaving their homes for decimated grocery stores. Many parents found themselves doing more than just asking, "Did you do your homework?" and spent their "off hours" Googling whatever it was their kids were supposed to be learning at the kitchen table. How well have you done in whatever new role this season has thrust upon you? Perhaps a large portion of success depends on whether you are a teacher or a student. And that might just be true of most of life.

In the home where I was raised, we attended church every Sunday. I went to a Christian school. I belonged to Pioneer Girls and youth group. My life was inundated with learning, and learning the Bible, first and foremost. But, I could just as easily have been learning the Qur'an or the owners manual for the Family Truckster. I knew it. I had amassed great amounts of knowledge from it. I knew fact after fact about its Author. But, in truth, He and I were strangers. I could have gotten straight A's in any Bible class, but I was a terrible student, for I'd missed the point altogether. Strangely, though, I chose to be a teacher. When I met people, I'd tell them about Jesus, all the while living like an anti-Christ. I even told my ex-husband about Jesus, over and over. "You're feeling this way because you don't have Jesus." When he and I were having problems in our marriage, I demanded a Christian counselor -- even though my ex-husband was not a Christian and, looking back, I'm not sure I was either. When friends and coworkers came to me with problems, I always told them they needed Jesus to heal, to be free, to know true love -- whatever, Jesus was always the answer. I made sure my children attended church and had a "religious upbringing." I taught my children at home, reciting prayers and verses with them. I refused to allow my children to watch certain things in our home and blasted my "Christian" music in the house at every opportunity. I taught Sunday school and junior church. Like some holy crusader, I demanded others know the truth. And why not? I knew the truth. I just didn't know Jesus.

But God. He. Changed. Me. Not my friends. not really. Not my ex-husband, or my children, or my coworkers. And if He did, praise His name, but it wasn't for my convenience. He created and is still creating in me, a student. Because of what He has done, I'm not sitting in the pew each Sunday, thinking how great it would be if ____ was here "because she could really stand to hear this." I'm no longer blasting Toby Mac for that neighbor who never seems to be able to park without overhanging my drive. "Girlfriend needs Jesus!" I've learned it may be more important to pray for my children, rather than preach to them. It is much better to trust God to do what He does, rather than demand He acts as I require. And all those lessons I pick up along the way, be it in my daily devotions, or words of wisdom from others, or sermons, or experiences, I learn them. Or, at least, I try to stay pliant and humble. It's wrong for me to strive at changing the world, my husband, or anyone else for my sake or according to my design; my focus should forever be on what God is doing and where God is leading. That changes me! And in giving Him the glory He so richly deserves, His message is spread to others. A lesson, born out of love and gratitude, rooted in the heart of a humble student, and demonstrated in the light of God's glory and grace. May we all seek to surrender ourselves to Him as disciples and servants of the Rabbi King.

"Not many [of you] should become teachers (self-constituted censors and reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation]."                                                         -- James 3:1 AMPC