You show up to class
and your teacher is not there,
but there is a
Substitute~
The Substitute Teacher.
There is a sense of relief
as the students know
it will be an easier day,
that they can let their guard down
because
their real teacher will be back tomorrow.
So,
The Substitute
takes abuse
because he or she
isn't the real thing
in the eyes of the student.
But oh how I treat
Jesus
like a
Substitute
when I don't take Him seriously,
when His words go in one ear and come out the other~
When He says~
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it fear (John 14:27)
and I instead
let my troubles add extra beats to a heart in need of peace.
When He says,
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.(Matthew 11:28-30)
and I instead
focus on the burdens that make me more weary.
When He says,
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34
and I instead
am consumed with the "what ifs" of tomorrow.
But then He Says
“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
reminding me that it is
Him
as there is no substitute
for Him~
no matter what I may be feeling or believing in the moment
as He always pursues me, and pursues you
with His words
reminding us
that
He means what He says and says what He means~
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9)
So I will no longer treat
Jesus
as
The Substitute
as I say the words,
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9)
because there is no
substitute
for
Jesus
so why should I ever treat Him as one.