Friday October 30
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Teacher Sent From God,” pp. 73-83, in Education.
“In the Teacher sent from God, all true educational work finds its center. Of this work today as verily as of the work He established eighteen hundred years ago, the Saviour speaks in the words –
‘I am the First and the Last, and the Living One.’
‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.’ Revelation 1:17, 18, R.V.; 21:6, R.V.
In the presence of such a Teacher, of such opportunity for divine education, what worse than folly is it to seek an education apart from Him – to seek to be wise apart from Wisdom; to be true while rejecting Truth; to seek illumination apart from the Light, and existence without the Life; to turn from the Fountain of living waters, and hew out broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
Behold, He is still inviting: ‘If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said,’ out of him ‘shall flow rivers of living water.’ ‘The water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life.’ John 7:37, 38; 4:14, R.V.” — Ellen G. White, Education, p. 83.
Amen!! If we drink not, then we will have nothing to give to others.
“Dear teacher, … As the highest preparation for your work, I point you to the words, the life, the methods, of the Prince of teachers. I bid you consider Him. Here is your true ideal. Behold it, dwell upon it, until the Spirit of the divine Teacher shall take possession of your heart and life.
‘Reflecting as a mirror the glory of the Lord,’ you will be ‘transformed into the same image.’ 2 Corinthians 3:18, R.V. This is the secret of power over your pupils. Reflect Him.” — Education, p. 282.
This is a well kept secret as to how we can be transformed into His image (character). Let us look at the whole verse so we can really understand how it is that we are converted and reflect the very character of our God. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord." It is not be reflecting His character that we are transformed into His image, it is by beholding His glory, His character, that we are transformed into His image (character). Then when we are transformed into His character we shall be reflecting His glory.
Discussion Questions:
What values and actions would be important to Christian teachers and students who take seriously the idea of learning from the incarnation of the Master Teacher?
Christian parents and teachers have a high standard – to reflect the character of God as revealed in the incarnation of Jesus. What should we do when we fall short of this high standard?
Nicodemus fell short of what God was asking of him. What did Jesus tell Nicodemus to do? Did he do it?
In class, discuss the question at the end of Thursday’s study. What does the birth, life, and death of Jesus teach us about the character of God? Why should this be so comforting to us, especially during times of great trial?
Christ's life was a revelation of the character of God. God's truth and justice were clearly seen. Neither was undone, but were revealed in the life and death of our Savior. God so loved us while we were yet sinners that He sent His innocent Son into this wicked world at the risk of losing Him! Herein is love!!