Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

colossians 3:16, esv

Think back (and if you’re as old as I am, this will take some work!) to your favorite teacher. Why was she or he your favorite? What about that teacher made you glad to sit in her classroom, do the homework he assigned? While they are often under-esteemed in our culture, teachers are critical to the wellbeing and sustainability of a people.

They are essential in the Christian life too. The surprise: you are a teacher! If you know Jesus Christ, you have a story to tell, a lesson to teach, a “student” waiting to be instructed. Paul writes, “teaching and admonishing one another.” We are all called to be faithful teachers to one another.

Your marriage is a classroom of two instructors and two students (and yes I can do math…you both are students of one another and able teachers to one another!). Parents, this is how you parent. You teach your kids. This is all of the Christian life–learning and teaching, teaching and learning.

And admonishing. Think warning. The phrase literally means to “put in the mind.” Teaching tells us what to do, admonishing what not to do. Admonishing is the warning side of teaching, the negative instruction that yields a positive result.

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.

Ephesians 4:15, ESV

Some of us are better at this than others. Some speak truth without love, others love without truth. Speaking truth without love is harsh, loving without speaking the truth is deceitful. Truth and love are like coffee and chocolate, ice cream and apple pie, baseball and hot dogs (ok, you can tell I’m hungry when I’m writing this). My point is, combined they’re wonderful. Apart…well I hope you get my point.

So…who speaks truth to you, in love? Thank them today. And if you don’t have anyone, pray for that teacher to come into your life, that fellow student.