Drawn to the Gospel

Happy World Teachers’ Day!👋🙂

Whether you are teaching or supporting the teaching team, it’s easy to feel the pressure of getting things right all the time.

When Paul addresses the church at Colossae, he reminds them not to let anyone judge them by rules, rituals, or appearances of holiness (See Col 2:16-23). He explains that these outward measures have no power to change the heart. As followers of Jesus, we are assessed not by performance but by our union with Him. Being united with Him means that He is the source of our life. Paul writes:

“These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” (Col 2:17)

Being united with Christ means He is our reality; He is our true substance, foundation, and perfection. Yet it is easy to lose focus on this grace-filled reality when our lesson preparation, sermon manuscript, family gatherings, or even how many likes our recent post receives, occupy our hearts and minds.

The Bible calls us to this reality time and again, because we forget them time and again. Jesus Christ is the Teacher par excellence; He is both the ultimate Teacher and the lesson itself. Each day, He teaches us only just to know His love, but also to reflect that love towards others.

Reflection:

• What does being freed to live for Christ look like at home, work, and in our community today?
• Where am I tempted to measure my worth merely by performance or appearance?

This devotion is sent weekly to staff during school terms. It has been lightly edited for a general audience.