Jeremiah 20:7-13; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:5a, 21-33

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

We all owe a lot to our teachers, parents, and all those who have instructed us in our life. Not only do teachers help us learn and grow, but they help shape who you are as a person. We all pick up little sayings, quirks, and other characteristics from them because so often when we’re learning, we try to be like them. Indeed, so often, we look up to our teachers because they help shape our view of the world by their enthusiasm and excellence.

The best way to learn is often by copying or imitating others. We learn by first mimicking our teacher’s excellence and only later making it our own. For every person has to start somewhere. No one becomes an expert on their own. You learn by seeing what others do well and building upon it. So, why would it be any different in faith? 

In our Gospel lesson, Jesus warns his disciples about all that will happen to them, while also giving them the comfort of knowing his care and love for them. Jesus is our teacher in the faith, the one whom we look to emulate and copy. As Jesus says, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his mater,” Matthew 10:24-25. It is enough for us to be like our Lord. We try to do what he does and follow in his footsteps. Yes, it is the desire of every Christian to be like our Lord, to share his love, his gentleness, his boldness, and confidence.

But we also have to understand what that means for us. If we follow our teacher, we’ll find the same troubles and problems that he found. “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household,” Matthew 10:25. If you wish to be a Christian, to follow Jesus throughout life, then know that it will come with struggles and hardships. This world will seek to make life harder for you because the world didn’t like Jesus, so they won’t like you either. 

It is enough though. It is enough for us to face those same trials and hardships as our Lord, not because we want to, but because there is no other option for us as Christians. The only other option is to outright reject our Lord, which we will not do. As Jesus said, “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven,” Matthew 10:32-33. Let us continue on in our Lord’s footsteps. Let us continue to learn and grow in him so that we may love as he has loved; we may forgive as he has forgiven us; we may trust as he has trusted, so that just as he died and rose from the dead, so shall we! Yes, it is enough for us to look always to our Lord because we know that Jesus died for us, has forgiven us our sins, and stands ready for us at the very gates of paradise! 

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

O God, because Your abiding presence always goes with us, keep us aware of Your daily mercies that we may live secure and content in Your eternal love; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!