Even Me!

There are many scholars who are able to lecture and write at great length the facts relating to all kinds of things. Is what they know always properly applied in their own life? Certainly there are genuine experts associated with many fields of learning. I enjoy reading scholarly works to gain insights from those who have gained more knowledge than I. However, it has been suggested that “He who teaches the Word of God is never a scholar: he is always a student.” [source: “sentence sermons”]

We noted not long ago (03/01/2006 “teEn-MAIL”) Jesus’ statement regarding the scribes and Pharisees who preached, but did not put those things into practice themselves. ( Matthew 23:3) Paul also asked in his letter to the church at Rome, “you then who teach others, do you not TEACH YOURSELF?” ( Romans 2:21a) One of the reasons teachers fall under a greater judgment ( James 3:1) is because they are not only responsible for what they teach to others, but are also without excuse if it is not taken to heart themselves.

Some subjects are easier for me to teach than others. There are times when a passage I am preparing to teach even makes me uncomfortable. Am I to ignore teaching it as if the passage did not exist? Am I to skip over it as if the lesson was not needed? No! All of God’s Word is intended to be taught. I must take the text to heart with a resolve to allow that truth to do its rightful work in my own life as I teach others to do the same. The uncomfortableness with a passage is a good thing if that is what I allow to happen. How many teachers might there be if everyone waited until they had it all together before they taught a lesson? The teacher (and I’m preaching to self here) must always remain open to the personal application of what is being taught. Perhaps that is part of what is reflected by the statement often made that one learns more from teaching a class than from having just sat in it.

Every time we open the Scriptures, let us do so with the same desire expressed by David when he wrote…

“(4) MAKE ME TO KNOW YOUR WAYS O LORD; TEACH ME YOUR PATHS. (5) LEAD ME IN YOUR TRUTH AND TEACH ME, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” ( Psalm 25:4-5 ESV)

It was not merely for the sake of gaining knowledge or even passing it on to others, but also for the purpose of being able to walk in a proper manner.

David also stated…
“TEACH ME YOUR WAY, O LORD, THAT I MAY WALK IN YOUR TRUTH; unite my heart to fear your name.” ( Psalm 86:11 ESV)
In the English Standard Version I found the phrase “TEACH ME” to be used at least 17 times in the Psalms. The student may become a teacher, but may the teacher always remain a student. TEACH ME! A teachable spirit must always be maintained so that we can constantly receive from God the direction our life needs. Let this openness continue to be so in our life!

Have a great day MEETING OPEN BOOK WITH OPEN HEART!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Receptiveness