Still In Training!

One of my favorite statements made by a fellow classmate when I was in college is: "You can no more say what you don't know than you can come back from where you ain't been." I can only teach what I know. I can only equip with what I myself have become equipped. I can do a fairly good job of helping others learn the knowledge and skills I possess, but there comes a point when I must turn them over to someone who has greater ability and understanding than I do. To just have them stop with where I am would minimize their potential for much greater things.

Jesus stated. . .
"A DISCIPLE IS NOT ABOVE HIS TEACHER. BUT EVERYONE WHEN HE IS FULLY TRAINED WILL BE LIKE HIS TEACHER." ( Luke 6:40 ESV)

"WHEN FULLY TRAINED." I am STILL IN TRAINING to be more LIKE CHRIST. And it is TO CHRIST that I must continue to direct the view of others. I will never be above Him, but His desire is for me (and you) to be like Him. That requires attentiveness to His Ways and Will. It necessitates a willingness to call Him "Lord" and let Him truly be the Lord of my entire life; a genuine acknowledgment made evident by following through on what He has asked. ( Luke 6:46-47) Therefore, HIS LIKENESS must remain the goal!

Also, Jesus was with the Father from the beginning ( John 1:1-2; 17:5) and came to earth and was able to return from where He came. Having been to earth, He is also able to return to take the redeemed to be with Him forever in Heaven. He can get back to where He's been and all of that for our benefit and blessing. Jesus can get me (and you) to where I "ain't been" because He has!

Yes, truly, we can no more say what we don't know than we can come back from where we ain't been. However, Jesus knows what we need to learn and knowing Him we can also know the Way. ( John 14:4-6) He has been there and here so that with Him we can get to where He is! We can therefore rejoice in knowing that our learning and our destiny are secure being linked to Him.

May we allow the process to continue as we trust fully in Him. As John encouraged. . .

"(2) Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM, because we shall see him as he is. (3) And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure." ( 1 John 3:2-3 ESV)

Have a great day SURRENDERED TO BEING HIS LIFELONG STUDENT!
Carl

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