Are you, or have you been an apprentice? No, I am not talking about the TV show – but real apprenticeships. Many of the professions and trades we depend upon have apprenticeships.
Recently I watched a talk about what Jesus did before he started his ministry. Apparently, it is more likely that He was a builder than a carpenter. The meaning may have been lost in translation over centuries.
Jesus tells stories about buildings and foundations, but no stories about wobbly chairs or broken joints.
Good builders have a 5-year-apprenticeship. I wonder what your experience of apprenticeship is?
A good apprenticeship works on the principle of first I do and you watch, then we do it together, and then you do and I watch. That is how we learn.
The Bible speaks about disciples. Jesus’ disciples were His apprentices. The apprenticeship for Christians has no end. We are always learning something new. After 58 years as an apprentice of Jesus I am still learning.
No one is too young or too old to be an apprentice of Jesus. We don’t need qualifications, or specialist knowledge.
We live in uncertain times but Jesus said:
”I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.” Luke 6:47-48 NLT
Jesus is always looking for new apprentices. He is the best teacher.