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Scripture for the day: Matthew 10:24-25a A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master.
Thought for the day: Over the years, I’ve heard countless people assert their desire to be like Jesus. We even have a song that expresses that sentiment.
I have one deep supreme desire,
That I may be like Jesus.
To this I fervently aspire,
That I may be like Jesus.
I want my heart His throne to be,
So that a watching world may see
His likeness shining forth in me.
I want to be like Jesus.1
I believe nearly every person who has sung that song, has done so honestly and sincerely. The problem isn’t with the desire to be like Him. The problem lies in determining how we do that. I think there are at least three ways we must take in order to make the grade as disciples of the Christ.
First, we must be willing to yield completely and utterly to the Master. If I wanted to become a master electrician or plumber or construction worker, the most effective means of accomplishing those goals would be to attach myself to someone who was already an expert. I would have to acknowledge that this person knows all that is necessary for me to learn and that the best thing I could do would be to listen every time the master spoke. And isn’t that the attitude Jesus asked from those who would follow Him and learn from Him? He said, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8:34b). If the master electrician tells me to connect this wire to the one on the other side of the room, I will do it, whether I see the sense of it or not. If Jesus tells me to go this place or to stay where I am, I must be willing to do it, whether I see the sense of it or not.
Second, we must be willing to absolutely trust the Master. If I can’t bring myself to trust the direction He’s given, whether I see the sense of it or not, I cannot learn obedience from Him and I will fail in my walk; I simply won’t make the grade. The question becomes, over and over, with each new situation that arises before us: “Do you trust me?” Do we? If He tells us to let go, can we? Will we? If He points in some direction we’ve never considered going, will we immediately take steps in that direction? If He puts His hand on our shoulder and tells us to go home, relax and simply share the gospel wherever we are able, will we cease struggling against the directions of the Master? Will we?
Third, if we are going to make the grade, we must be willing to pay attention to the Master – all the time, in whatever He commands. We must be willing to give whatever time and effort He demands. I’m convinced that the vast majority of failures in our walk with Him is due to the fact that we’ve allowed the world to keep us so busy that we have failed to spend sufficient time with Him. Mary got it right and we need to learn the lesson she taught. There was work to be done, meals to provide, social and cultural expectations to be met, and she knew it. However, she rightly chose to take the time (no one gave it to her) to sit at the feet of the Master and learn from Him. Without permanently neglecting our responsibilities, we need to be ready to sit quietly in prayer and meditation so that, in learning more deeply of Him, we can make the grade and become more like the Master.
Now go take on your world. - Bill
1. “I want to be like Jesus,” Thomas Chisolm, © 1945 by Lillenas Pub. Co.