How would you define a teacher? Most would say he is is a capable person who instructs another in a subject in which they are trained themselves. In Scripture, the teacher is akin to a disciple who teaches another person to live a godly life, as Paul may have done for his doctor friend named Luke. We don't know for sure, but Luke may have daily ministered to Paul as he dealt with his "thorn." In the end we know Luke stayed by Paul's side. (2Tim 4:11)

What a profound statement Luke made in 6:40 regarding a teacher and his student. Luke premised his statement by saying a blind guide would surely lead another blind person into a pit built for two. In contrast a good teacher possesses teaching skills, knowledge of the subject he teaches and the experience to help a student avoid those self-made pits.

When one person acts like someone else, it's said he emulates them. In my experience I've had few teachers I wanted to emulate. Instead, most of my teachers had a head knowledge of facts, but seemed to lack practical life experience to help me know how to use the information they taught. Or else, they didn't see the need to pass on that part of the instruction. Paul on the other hand must have been an exceptional teacher judging from his students like Luke and Timothy.

Are you a teacher? Wait. Before you answer, let me rephrase the question. "Everyone teaches someone else by their actions if nothing else. Some will view what's happened in someone else's life as an object lesson for their instruction. They will view how others respond to problems as inspiration to take similar action. In short, emulation of a godly man or woman is discipleship by another word and is the way God intended for the gospel to be spread.

It's almost funny if it weren't sad, how we the Church have in our day twisted God's original design and substituted our own lazy evangelical method that doesn't include discipleship as part of the salvation plan?

1. Pray Through the Word - 365 devotionals on the subject of prayer by James R. Green (2Ki 2; Lu 6)
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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