I overheard my 11-year-old son telling his grandmother about one of his classes at school. “On our first day of Studio Art,” he said, “our teacher told us to draw self-portraits. Mine was bad. Everyone’s was bad. The next day she taught us how to use lines, and everyone’s self-portraits improved.”

I took away two things from his words: First, teachers play an essential role in helping us learn and develop talents. Second, using the appropriate tools helps us to line things up correctly (the eyes, nose, and mouth in a self-portrait!) and do what’s best.

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul—a teacher and church leader—gave his protégé Titus a list of things he and other leaders should do and teach to other church members:

• “Promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching” (Titus 2:1).

• “Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect and to live wisely.” They are also to “have sound faith and be filled with love and patience” (Titus 2:2).

• “Teach the older women to live in a way that honors God,” “not slander others or be heavy drinkers,” and to “teach others what is good” (Titus 2:3).

• “Train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure” (Titus 2:4-5).

• “Encourage the young men to live wisely” (Titus 2:6).

• “Be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching” (Titus 2:7).

Paul told Titus that Jesus gave His life and provided what we need to be helpful teachers and students within the church (Titus 2:14). To ultimately define the lines of good teaching and good deeds, we look to and follow Him—the Master Teacher!

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 12:49-59