Luke 6:40 “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.”

This is the hope and goal of every true disciple of Jesus Christ. Jesus cautioned us several times to not expect to have it easier than He did, which is a pretty daunting prospect, considering all He went through for our sake. However, this verse is the promise of glory. There is a little chorus that expresses this beautifully: “To be like Jesus; to be like Jesus. All I ask, to be like Him. All through life’s journey from earth to glory; all I ask: to be like Him.” We will never be the Redeemer, because He is absolutely unique in that function, and we of course are not divine, but we can express His character, He love and grace and even purity, when we are cleansed by His blood. Jesus said we will do even greater things than He did! (John 14:12) That is to be our goal, and we are to be satisfied with nothing less. The thing is, that’s actually a very hard road, considering all that Jesus went through in terms of rejection and misunderstanding. We like to be understood and accepted! In some ways, martyrs have it easy, because they can give their lives totally all at once. Most of us have to do it a day at a time, and that can get very difficult. However, that’s what discipleship is all about, and the reward is more than worth it. Like Paul said, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17) They don’t seem so “light and momentary” in the middle of them, but the end result will so far out-shadow them as to make us forget them.

This is something I have thought about a good bit, actually. I don’t feel I have had a particularly hard time of it, but then, God is the judge of how good a disciple I am. Again to quote Paul, “I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.” (2 Corinthians 2:3-4) I am never to say, that’s enough, about anything I go through, but rather trust my Lord with His training program. My goal is to be like Jesus, fully pleasing to Him, accurately representing Him to the people around me so that they too may be drawn to Him in repentance and faith. To whatever degree that happens, that is a reward far beyond anything this world can offer.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for Your patience with me. As I am frequently aware, I would have given up on me a long time ago! Thank You for telling me to rest, relax, and rejoice in You. May I do that more and more, so that I may be fully available for whatever You want to do in and through me, on Your schedule and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!