A Teacher's Influence

by Pat Hackney

On Sunday as I arrived at the church building and looked across the street I saw the old elementary school building being demolished. This brought back a lot of fond memories and at the same time, it made me sad. I remember all of my school years in the old building and the wonderful teachers I had. There were Mrs. Gifford, Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Wright, Mrs. Thompson, Mr. Smith and Mrs. Gann. These were my teachers in grades one through six. Yes, I remember them all very clearly. What a great group of teachers they were. All of them have now passed to their reward.
It made me realize once again what a long-lasting influence a teacher has on a child. Jesus, the greatest teacher who ever lived, once told his disciples: �A disciple is not above his teacher but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher� ( Luke 6:40). If Jesus had not taught his disciples for three and one-half years before He left this earth, there might not have been a written New Testament and the establishment of His church. But thank God He did teach them and they were good students. And they in turn have become our teachers as to what is pleasing unto Him.
We, too, have the responsibility of being one of His disciples: We must �Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age� ( Matthew 28:19-20).
As long as there is just one Christian alive doing what Jesus has asked us to do, His church will be alive and well. May we all aspire to be like the Master teacher.