Teach

“ But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.” ~ Titus 2:1
Melvin Harper is manager of an eight-thousand-acre buckeye ranch and rice farm near Bay City, Texas. “Lord, send me cowboys who aren’t Christians,” is his daily prayer. Why? Because encouraging cowboys and youngsters to live for Christ is a kind of calling for the man who was the nation’s top bronco buster and steer rider for more than ten years. The veteran rodeo performer started attending church regularly after working with a man who wanted to learn to rope and ride. Melvin made his decision to follow Christ and soon he began teaching a class of boys. He shared his faith freely with the cowhands who came to train at the ranch. When asked about the greatest thrill of his life, Melvin told about the year when he was the only rider to stay mounted on the nation’s wildest and best bucking rodeo horse in Madison Square Garden and in Houston. “But,” said Melvin, “this kind of thrill doesn’t compare with [seeing] a boy, his parents, and a cowhand [make a decision to follow] Christ.” (AMG Bible Illustrations, Bible Illustrations Series (Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, 2000). Adapted for use.)

Teaching happens everywhere the Christian travels. We teach with words when we speak to others about Jesus. We teach with actions when we serve. We teach in the classroom, the home, and in the grocery store. Never think that you are not teaching. There is always someone watching you as you live for Jesus. The important thing is to make sure that what you teach is truth.

The life of the believer is defined by the truth of Jesus. We walk in this world as His ambassadors. WE teach the same things He taught. We live in the way He lives. As Paul encourages Titus to teach what accords with sound doctrine, Paul encourages Titus to look like Jesus. It is an encouragement that we all need to hear.