It is the first day of school.  The students run in with eagerness, ready to reunite with all their friends.  As I former teacher, I remember every first day of school.  Their adrenalin at extreme levels packed them with excitement.  First day meant unprovoked giggling and laughter while supplies fell out from overpacked backpacks. 

Most teachers, like myself, are also excited to meet our new students!  But we are also challenged because it is a day of explaining the procedures that will guide the success of being in the class to learn and grow in knowledge together.  It is “the behavior plan” that will help all students work alongside each other for optimum learning.  They are called “the rules” for the year.  The rules will bring order to chaos that would ensue without a guide to help them learn in a designated space with many others. 

Yes, this is the first day activity after assigning seats and putting supplies away.  “One, two three, eyes on me,” says the teacher as she/he begins the lesson on expected behavior so all will go well in the learning process.

Jesus, our Master Teacher, the Master of all great teaching methods for optimum learning, gives his followers a guide for behavior on the mountain top that day that simplified what they had been told.  This guide came from the heart of God so that life will go well as followers learn and grow in God’s ways. 

Matthew 7:1-12, The Message

A Simple Guide for Behavior

^1-5 “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

⁶ “Don’t be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and inviting sacrilege.

^7-11 “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?

¹² “Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God’s guide is designed to keep our eyes on Him, learn how He works, how he loves, along with how He treats those He loves so we can grow up, consistently maturing with the holy traits of His character.  As we love Him back, we realize the depth of love He has for us which enables us to go deeper in our love for each other. 

God’s love is amazing.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16, NIV)  God also sent His Son, Jesus to teach us how to live here with each other before we spend eternity with Him where He is.

Jesus’ teaching is masterful and incredibly genius!  Read and we will notice that the same “rules for the classroom” are wonderfully articulated as a simple guide for living a life that please God and protects us from each other while providing for our basic needs. 

Love God.  Love Each Other.  These two great commandments are at the root of the “rules” for living.  Without the love of God in our hearts, the rules are only rules.  With the love of God in our hearts we see the reason for the rules that guide us in our intimate, ever growing relationship with God and for others.

The students in my classroom didn’t always follow the rules, shocking I know, but after the consequences were dealt with, the apologies given; the students were given a fresh start with forgiveness. The past was put behind them; a new day before them.  I learned that from Jesus!   Jesus, the Master Teacher, was my “go to” as my guide for my own behavior.

Lord,

You are Life.  You have all the answers for living life well.  I run to you when perplexed over problems, overwhelmed with overthinking, and confused about certain circumstances that rise up to bring me down and distract me from you.  Thank you for the greatest sermon on earth that explains how to live in ways that please you most and protects us from each other.  Now give me the courage and wisdom to live it daily.  May your love lead my behaviors.

In Jesus Name, Amen