Class rocks on as always

Ramesh C. Reddy

Managing Editor

Last month, I shared with you about a class that I created that has the world’s best teacher teaching it. I shared with you my experience with the class, textbook, homework, and office hours. I want to share with you more about office hours and other aspects of the class.

When I think about office hours, I think about limited time which is not always enough time. When it came to Jesus that was not the case. He reminded me that His office hours are open 24 hours a day/7 days a week. I can reach him anytime and anywhere. Wow! That blew my mind! What an incredible concept and opportunity that is!

Then I wondered what was I going to use to reach Jesus! Would it be a letter; no that takes too long! Hmm, I was in deep thought how to reach Jesus always wherever I was.

Then Jesus gave me a phone number to call Him anytime and anywhere. It was a long-distance number to Heaven but Jesus made it free. The number was: JESUS HELP ME!

Each time I would call that number, Jesus would be ready to listen to me and help me out. I thought to myself that He is a glorious Lord and He bears my burdens and gives me Salvation.

I learned through using Christ’s office hours effectively, that the Bible comes more and more alive. Jesus Christ loves us so much that He died for our sins and came back to life to save us all! Amen!

Jesus reminded me to always call upon Him in my day of trouble so He could rescue me. My prayer life has not been the same since I found out about Christ’s office hours. My teacher has become my best friend and my Lord and Personal Savior.

I started to join with other students in the class and study the textbook together. This became known as Bible study. I did not stop there but found a church and college fellowship where I could praise & worship Him, listen to the teaching available and grow as a community together in the Lord.

I felt one thing was harder to do though. It was telling people who were never making time to meet with Him and that He really loves them so much and would love for them to be in His class.

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12, NIV)

Jesus reminded me that He redeemed me and calls me by name and that I belong. Wow! I have a place of belonging with the Lord and He calls me by name. He gave me another promise too.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." (Isaiah 43:2, NIV)

I was also reminded that I was precious and special in His sight! Yippee! Jesus wanted me to now go and tell others that He loves them the same way. I decided to do that and that became known as Evangelism.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV)

I knew with the Holy Spirit He has given me, I could do it for I claimed the promise in His Word: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

Tests do not usually bring happy times for me. They have always been achy to prepare for and many times to take. When Jesus reminded me that I would have tests throughout my life that was a scary thought and I was not a happy camper.

Jesus wanted me to know that He loved me and that everyone is going through tests these days and it’s part of the human race. I knew how I came out of the tests would be up to me.

Jesus reminded me of an advantage though. Every test that comes my way will be open book that meant I could utilize the textbook and His office hours.

I knew it was not going to be easy though but He reminded me that His grace would be sufficient for me.

I learned in our struggles, the more we turn to Christ’s office hours and His written instruction manual, more easily we could get through these tests than those who do not want to utilize Christ’s office hours and His Word.

The most important criteria our grade is based on is whether we acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Personal Savior and act upon that. I usually hate being graded especially when I know I will not do well or fail. Jesus grades each day of our lives.

We can do everything in life and not know the Lord personally and we will get a failing grade. Jesus even reminded me of those it happened to.

"Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:21-27, NIV)

Let me tell you, those who think this is an easy class to take thought wrong. Growing in the Lord 2002 is not an easy class but intense. In the end it would be worth it, if you finish it without giving up.

You will grow strong in the Lord and will have such an awesome relationship with Christ. Let me assure you, if you depend on the Lord and trust in Him as your Savior, He will finish the work in your life.

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)

In conclusion, Jesus gave me an awesome promise:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." (John 14:1)

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