JOHN 13:34-35  "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. [35] By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another

Jesus walked the dusty roads with impure disciples.  They fussed;  they competed; they disbelieved; they failed; they denied him and even betrayed him.  Jesus loved them in all their impurities; He saw beyond their imperfections; He saw their potential--what they were to become--and He loved them.  Jesus not only loved them in their unlovely, undeveloped stage, He taught them and prepared them to become a mature and well-developed person.  He was not satisfied with understanding the disciples' weaknesses.  He sought to change those weaknesses into strengths.  He was their teacher.

Today, if there is one student in your classroom that you can't stand, that you disdain, that you can't think of anything good to say about, that you distrust, that you have no hope for, this Scripture was written for you.  Love wins; love brings change; love softens a hard heart; love is kind, considerate, and always hopes for change.  Rejection builds barriers and walls; rejection brings destruction; rejection brings war; rejection kills hope; rejection insures failure.  The Scripture says, "...you MUST love one another." 

You may be saying, "You don't know what they did."  Or "They rejected me first."  A teacher is above his student.  You have more life experiences, more maturity and more mistakes and victories from which to draw strength.  Remember your own childhood mistakes.  Give grace to your students--unmerited, undeserved acceptance.  The longer you walk with God, the more you will see your own "not so perfect attitudes and not so innocent motives".  God wants to reveal to us our self-centeredness, our pride, and our stubbornness.  Often when a student "pushes our button", it reveals an area of insecurity or pride within us.  We can use these times of vulnerability to search our hearts, to repent, to learn, to grow and develop, and to mature in Christ.  I have often wondered who learns the most through conflict--the teacher or the student.  God uses conflict as a teaching tool to develop both student and teacher.

Students will remember who you are more than what you teach.  They will recognize insincerity and double standards in a leader's life.  As we teach them to love each other and to accept differences, we must guard ourselves to be sure that we are being consistent with our teaching.  Unconditional love draws out the best in others.  Love reflects our Savior.  Love brings people to the foot of the cross.  Love brings change. 

DEAR GOD.  FORGIVE ME FOR MY LACK OF LOVE TOWARD STUDENTS WHO ARE UNLOVELY.  TEACH ME TO LOOK BEYOND THEIR FAULTS AND SEE THEIR POTENTIAL.  LET LOVE BE A PART OF MY DAILY WALK WITH YOU.

 Copyright © 2002, Elderine Wyrick
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