God Teaches Us 5

Luke 6:47-49

In my first year in college I took a history course which had several books as required reading. At that time I was not ready to take college seriously and didn’t take the time to read many of the assignments (the books were boring!). Everything seemed to be fine all through the many weeks of the class until the final exam came around. I was unable to answer a huge portion of the questions and got a low grade in the class.

God teaches us in our experiences with His presence. God teaches us through the Scripture and through worship. God teaches us through the lessons of Jesus. Will we take the time to make these teachings part of who we are?

Jesus spent a huge portion of his ministry teaching people about the kingdom of God and how we are to live as believers. But then, like today, not everyone embraced the lessons and lived out what Jesus taught. To whom does Jesus compare a person who lives out his teaching? What about the person who doesn’t live out his teaching?

We may be among the faithful people who attend church, take part in Bible study, and even read our Bible when we can. But God’s teachings involve more than just hearing the words from Scripture and reading them. The lessons from God are there to change us.

We can change into more perfect people when we embrace what is being taught. We must understand what the lessons are that God teaches us. We must comprehend what Jesus teaches. But then we must put these lessons into practice.

Simply having the information available to us does no good if we don’t learn from the teachings. If we can’t live out what is taught, if we can’t change who we are through our understanding of God’s lessons, then we have not given ourselves the spiritual foundation to weather the storms of faith.

We can hear the lessons from God, but we must also internalize them, putting them into practice, living them out in our day-to-day. When we do that then we have the strength to endure the challenges of life and the challenges to our faith.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you be certain the foundation of your house of faith is firm?

God Teaches Us 4

Colossians 1:28-29

“Why do we have to learn all this stuff?” I heard it over and over in the years that I worked as a teacher. My students didn’t understand the value of their education. Learning was a chore for them, and a pointless one it seemed.

But learning is important. It is important to understand, to expand our thoughts, to gain more knowledge. In that way we can become better people than what we are now.

The letter to the Colossians celebrates a relationship with Christ as well as the ministries that were going on. Who is proclaimed? How is Jesus proclaimed? Why is Jesus proclaimed?

Although our faith involves a relationship with Jesus Christ, making him part of who we are and what we do, and our faith involves living out the love of God, there is another essential part of our faith. We must learn about who God is and who Jesus is.

Part of our religion is to attend worship services, and in those worship services (hopefully) the meaning and lessons from Scripture, the lessons from God and the teachings of Jesus, are explained and interpreted. Through our worship we can expand our understanding of how God works and we can more fully know who Jesus is.

This teaching is a way to proclaim Christ. It is a way to proclaim the love of God. Through the teachings of worship and Bible study the fullness of God and Jesus Christ can be made known. Our faith can grow and develop. It can become stronger and deeper.

And as we grow in knowledge and understanding, as we increase our comprehension of God and our place in the kingdom, we can move closer toward perfection. We can be made into better and more holy believers by the teaching we receive in our faith and worship. God teaches us when we take the time to encounter His lessons and learn from them. And the teaching God provides makes us better, more perfect people.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can your attitude toward learning from God and about God be more positive?

God Teaches Us 3

Matthew 13:33

One of my favorite things to eat (and there are so many!) is a nice piece of baked bread. And, of course, one of the key ingredients in good bread is the yeast. The yeast works to make the dough rise up and become fluffy. It gives the bread a softer texture and adds flavor. A small bit of yeast can really make things better.

Jesus continued in his teachings with another parable – a simple example of something familiar. To what does he compare the kingdom of heaven? What does the woman do with the yeast?

I find it interesting that this simple parable appears almost incomplete. Living a life obedient to God and a life which shares God’s love with others is like yeast. A woman takes yeast and mixes it in with flour until it is thoroughly blended. The end.

What about it? What happened to the dough? Jesus doesn’t give any more detail than that. But we can imagine what will happen to the dough. Since the dough has had yeast added to it, the dough will be much improved.

And the kingdom of heaven isn’t compared to a nice loaf of bread. It is compared to the yeast, something which will affect the outcome. The kingdom of heaven – that is, our ability to live as Godly and holy people – is not an end result, but an influence of change for the better. Just as yeast improves bread, our ability to live as children of God and people who imitate Christ can improve life.

So too are the teachings of Christ. The lessons Jesus present can serve as an additive to us so that our lives are much improved. We need to let the yeast of Christ’s teachings work its way all through our lives so that what we do and say, how we respond to life’s situations, and how we respond to God’s directing is aligned with the teachings of Jesus.

We can also serve as yeast to the situations in life. Bearing the wisdom and teachings of Jesus, we can be a positive influence with other people. We can share our learning with others who may be in a difficult situation.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you let the yeast of the kingdom of heaven mix thoroughly in your life?

God Teaches Us 2

Matthew 13:31-32

While I was away one weekend my wife and daughter assembled some goody bags for members of our church to hand out to area families. It didn’t take a great deal of effort – a few candy bars, a flyer and a magnet in each one. But for me, not having to worry about this effort was a tremendous gift of relief. It was one less thing for me to worry about.

I imagine that these small gift bags were a pleasant treat for those who received them. Not a lot of money was spent, not a great deal of time was invested, but these gifts may have brightened the spirits of those who received them. This small effort, done with love, may have had a big impact.

When trying to get a better picture of how God loves us through His teaching we can not overlook the ability of Jesus to teach lessons. Most of his teachings were done in parables, which are defined as short and simple examples using familiar themes.

Today’s reading is one of those parables. To what does Jesus compare the kingdom of heaven? What are the two contrasting images of the mustard seed?

Many people are familiar with Jesus’ comment that we need faith like a mustard seed – that even faith that may seem small can be very strong. But here Jesus is talking about the kingdom of heaven, not faith. What’s the difference?

I believe that faith is our belief and our ability to hold firm to that belief. I believe the kingdom of heaven is not just beliefs, but faith lived out in obedience to God and service to others. Part of the kingdom of heaven is the expression of God’s love in acts of mercy and grace.

Like the mustard seed which begins as very tiny and then grows to such a size that it gives shelter to animals, our acts of kindness and expressions of love can be small. They do not have to be grand, sweeping gestures or dramatic rescues. The smallest of expressions of love and kindness can have huge effects.

But also like the mustard seed, the teachings of Jesus do not need to be lengthy dissertations, explanations and lectures. With very simple words and common images he can convey the profound lessons that we need to hear. From these small gems of wisdom we can gain some of the greatest insights to improve our faith and strengthen our understanding of God’s kingdom.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Which of Jesus’ lessons have made the biggest impact on you?

God Teaches Us 1

Psalm 139:17-18

Although I am not much of a conversationalist there was a friend I had in college with whom I really liked to talk. We could sit for hours and have conversations. I enjoyed them because he was really clever and intelligent and I always got something out of our times together.

If we know that God loves us because He created us, then we can also know that God loves us because He shares His thoughts with us. What does the psalmist say about the thoughts of God? What do you think is meant by the last statement in verse 18?

Most believers agree that the ways of God are far beyond our reach. We are not capable of being as wise and intelligent as God. God is far above us in His thinking and we do not always understand what He does or what God’s motivation is.

But God does love us very much. He has created us and He also expresses His love for us by sharing His thoughts with us. He has expressed His desires through the writings of the Bible, and He still speaks to us today with lessons and guidance – that little nudging of our thoughts that urges us to do this or that.

God teaches us how to live a holy life. He teaches us through the Scripture and through the lessons that Jesus taught how to behave in a righteous and good way. He shows us how to truly be His children.

It is up to us to listen to these lessons. And more than listening, it is up to us to obey the teachings and commands of God. No matter how hard, no matter how challenging, God shows us what we are to do. We just need to do it.

And the teaching of God, the direction, the prompting and urging, is not something that God delivers to us and then leaves us to struggle along. He is with us in all things helping us to comprehend what He shows us, guiding us to do what is right.

Although the psalmist says he is still with God, we might remember that God is still with us. He is beside us as we work to live out His teaching and understand His will for our lives.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can help you listen to God?

Teach One Another 5

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

The other day my wife and I were recommending a course of action with our teenage son, but he seemed reluctant to listen to our advice. I finally stopped the conversation and explained that what we were advising was not meant to frustrate and torment him, but the advice was intended to make things as good as they could be with our son because we loved him and wanted the best.

The same type of situation can occur when dealing with issues of faith, especially those new to the faith. The path of salvation, the changes needed, the new attitude can be confusing or difficult to accept.

In his letter to the church in Thessalonica Paul offers some encouragement. What does God want for us? What has Christ done? What are we to do?

As believers in the faith, as Christian brothers and sisters, we are meant to uplift and encourage one another. Part of our teaching is to be the message of salvation for those new to the faith and those who may have lost sight of the purpose of Jesus.

Even those who have been faithful for many years need to be encouraged and lifted up from time to time. But in our teaching and instruction, in our encouragement, we need to be certain that our purpose is clear.

As we have seen before, we must be certain that the word of Christ dwells richly within us. We must be certain that what we do, we do in the name of Jesus and for the purpose of strengthening faith and securing salvation.

We all must remember that God’s intention for us is that we do not suffer, but that we are saved, even when we are not completely aware of the salvation offered. We should continue to build up the family of faith but with the awareness that we may need to explain our purposes to those who are learning.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you encourage another in the name of Christ?

Teach One Another 4

Colossians 3:15-17

Teaching another person to do the things that you are skilled at doing can be quite frustrating sometimes. There are many times where I have gotten irritated with a learner because they don’t seem to grasp the ideas that I know so well. Likewise, I have been the difficult learner, unable to understand or remember what I was taught, causing frustration and flare-ups of tempers in those who are teaching.

But as Christians we need to have patience in our instruction and teaching. We are to allow peace to rule in our hearts because we are of the family of God. We are brothers and sisters of Jesus, and he is the Prince of Peace.

Paul offers some guidance in teaching in this passage. What two things are instructed in verse 15? What will guide us in our teaching, according to verse 16? How are we to go about teaching?

Teaching faith involves so much more than reading from the Bible or examining Biblical commentaries. To teach faith we must live as examples of that faith. Being a true example of what it means to believe and trust in the Lord is perhaps the best and most effective way to lead others.

But those who are new to the faith and those who may be struggling with their own place in the kingdom of God may frustrate those who are trying to teach about God. It may seem difficult to accept that others are not in the same place spiritually that we are in. But we cannot allow our own frustration, and indeed our own motivation and selfish ambitions, to be the controlling factors in our teaching.

We need to have the peace of Christ in us and we need to offer instruction in the name of the Lord. When that is the motivation and what controls our teaching, when the word of God has grown and developed within our own hearts, we can truly lead others into a strong faith with Christ.

As you lead others in the faith be certain that the word of Christ dwells richly in you, and allow the peace of Christ rule your instruction.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can you do to be certain the word of Christ dwells richly in you?

Teach One Another 3

Ephesians 4:29-30

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” That is a familiar saying from our childhood, something we were taught in the hopes of maintaining a positive self-esteem even in the face of criticism. But the truth is words can hurt very much. Bad words, criticism, ridicule can cause more pain and longer lasting damage than a handful of sticks and stones.

As Christians we need to be keenly aware of the power of our words. We need to be very conscious of our ability to tear down or to build up. When we speak to one another in our times of worship, when we try to lead or share with one another in Bible study, when we interact at our council meetings, we need to choose our words wisely.

We have talked about what to say to one another that we might teach one another. This passage takes a slightly different turn. What are we not to say? What are we not to do? According to the second half of verse 29, what are we to say?

Although interactions with others may not always go as smoothly as we would like, and spending time together inevitably leads to those times of friction and disagreement, we need to be careful with our words and our attitudes. We are told not to allow any unwholesome talk to come out of our mouths. Instead of arguing and criticizing one another, we should teach and build others up according to their needs.

But unwholesome talk is more than just rude words and harsh criticism. Unwholesome talk would include lies and deceit. Unwholesome talk would also include false statements and misinformation. These words would grieve the Holy Spirit for the evil that is perpetuated.

If we will teach one another we must choose our words wisely. We must treat one another with respect and acceptance. And we must provide one another with the truth, with learning that is based on fact and couched in mercy; not with hearsay, falsehoods, superstitions or erroneous tradition.

Keep unwholesome words from leaving your mouth. Instead, let us teach one another and build one another up in Christian love.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you be certain that your words are wholesome and helpful?

Teach One Another 2

Romans 15:13-14

In a worship service two years ago I called on various people who had done mission work to have them tell their stories. When I called on one man in the congregation the first thing he said was, “I haven’t been anywhere.”

It was true, he had never gone to another country on a mission trip, but he had done God’s work locally. He simply had to tell the other people what he felt when he served God. And in his simple and honest story he was teaching others, providing them with a wonderful example of faith.

We do not have to travel the world visiting leper colonies or building hospitals to do God’s work. We do not have to be experts in the Bible, fully versed in Hebrew and Greek, to teach others about Jesus. We just need to be faithful believers willing to do whatever we are called to do and able to do. And we can teach, not through books and lectures and papers, but through example. We can teach by sharing our own stories honestly.

In his letter to the Romans Paul expresses some positive attitudes. What belief does he share in verse 14? What two things does Paul pray for in verse 13?

The letter to the church in Rome was not addressed to a select few, but was intended to all those believers in that city. Paul was addressing a large group, a whole church. And yet he was convinced that they were competent to instruct one another.

It is very unlikely that the whole church was peopled with educators of all types, professors and teachers. It was likely to have been similar to your church or body of worshipers. And yet all of those people were full of goodness and knowledge, competent to instruct others.

I would venture that your church is the same. Your church has good people who have had experiences of service and mercy which they could share with others. By witnessing, by telling the stories, by living as an example of Christ, all faithful believers can teach others.

We also need to remember that we are not alone. With the Holy Spirit we are able to instruct one another. And the Spirit can fill us with so much joy and peace that we overflow with hope, overflowing in our actions and attitudes which lead others to be faithful too.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Pray that the Holy Spirit will fill you with such joy and peace that you may overflow into the lives of others, guiding them in faith.

Teach One Another 1

1 Peter 5:2-3

While working as a teacher I had to think before responding whenever a student thanked me for helping them. Often my first response was to say, “It’s my job.” The same is true in ministry. There are times when a parishioner will thank me for stopping by the hospital, and my first impulse is to say, “It’s my job.”

The problem is that those words imply an unwillingness on my part. In other words, that statement could mean I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t have to. But that is not true. It is my job, but I am also doing it because I want to.

Peter has a message for the elders of the early church. What does he instruct? What should be their attitude?

I believe these instructions are meant for every Christian. It is true that the elders of the church – those with authority and responsibility – should help in guiding the church. I believe it is also true that elder Christians, those who have been in the faith for many years, should help to guide those who may be new to the body of Christ.

But I also believe that every Christian has the responsibility to lead and nurture people who are trying to find their way in the faith. Even if you have only been a believer a short time, you can help those who have just accepted Christ.

We are called to teach one another. But we are also called to teach one another willingly, without reluctance or desire for reward. We should teach but not because we must, but because we want to.

Even those who are not skilled at teaching, those who do not want to be the leader or instructor in a church classroom, can still teach. You can teach by being a living example of what it means to have strong faith. Peter charges us not to “lord” it over others. We should teach with joy and enthusiasm and by example. We should avoid shaming others into obedience or lecturing them on their faults.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you teach faith without being in a classroom?

Teacher 5

Psalm 119:89-92

I caught part of a television show about an ancient engineer who designed simple machines to convey water to arid lands. Experts uncovered many of his designs and plans, and discovered that they still work. Using the natural power of rivers he made water wheels and simple pumps that lifted the water high into the air, conveying the water into aqueducts.

There are certainly other ways to irrigate land today, but these machines with designs that are thousands of years old are still feasible. The principles, although old, are valid.

Education today is not what it was thousands of years ago or even hundreds of years ago. Society functions differently than it did even half a century ago. It is easy to think that what once was valid is no longer applicable.

But in fact, the word of God is eternal. The laws and teachings of our Lord are still as true today as they were at the beginning of time.

In this portion of Psalm 119 the writer makes comment on God’s word, His commands and laws. What does he say about them? Why does he say these things (look at verses 90 and 91)? What benefit does the psalmist celebrate?

The morality of our society seems to be an ever-changing thing. All around us we can see decaying morals and acceptance of those things that were once forbidden. It has been said more and more that the church, Christianity, and faith in God is obsolete.

But God is constant. God is eternal and so is His love, and so are His commandments. By listening to the teachings of Jesus, by following the word of God, we can be given the directions we need to navigate through the trials and temptations of our world. Although what is acceptable and considered good may seem to be in flux, the truth is constant. The truths of God and the teachings of Jesus are still valid and worthy of our time and attention.

By holding fast to the goodness of God, by trusting in His constant mercy, by working to understand the lessons of Jesus Christ, we are able to overcome the troubles of the world. The word of God keeps us from perishing in our afflictions. It is up to us to listen to and understand the teachings of Jesus.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How will you live out the teachings of Jesus?

Teacher 4

Matthew 13:10-13

When I worked at a local newspaper we had a language that was all our own. Terms like “kicker,” “cut-line,” “drop head,” “pull quote,” “grin and grab,” and “slug” were tossed around daily. To anyone not part of the staff it would seem as if we were speaking a secret code, and in many ways we were. Our terminology made work more efficient to those who understood it.

For the first few days the terms baffled me, but eventually I picked up on the jargon. It took some time and a little effort on my part. The words were not meant for everyone to understand, only those who needed to and who were able to learn.

Jesus confounded some of his listeners by the way he taught. He used parables, and to many of us today the short, familiar lessons make a great deal of sense. But at the time they were challenging.

What do the disciples ask? Who has been given the knowledge? What contrast is made between those who have understanding and those who do not?

This passage has been a source of mental wrangling in the past. How could anyone be confused by the parables when they seem quite plain? How could anyone not understand? Why does it seem here that Jesus is intentionally vague?

After reading in the book The Misunderstood Jew - The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus, by Amy-Jill Levine (Harper One), I have had a glimmer of enlightenment. To the Jewish listeners these parables could indeed be a source of confusion because the examples used and the characters in the parables carried a different meaning than they do to Christians today. One example is the parable of the yeast. To us, yeast simply makes bread rise; but to the Jew at the time of Christ, yeast not only worked in flour but also implied secretive work.

To hear the parables at the time of Christ meant to be confronted with ideas that were contrary to common beliefs. The usual way of thinking did not apply to the parables, or at least seemed contrary to the message Jesus was giving.

Why did he do that? Jesus’ response implies that to understand his teaching you had to accept a new way of thinking. You had to apply some effort in understanding. And if you were able to take on a new way of thinking more would be added to the richness of your life.

The teachings of Christ were not simple but asked for effort on the listener’s part. Those who hear the teachings of Jesus must invest themselves in understanding, just as we must invest ourselves in being part of the kingdom of God. At times we need to change our own way of understanding so that we may better understand our God.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Can you hear the teachings of Jesus with a new attitude?

Teacher 3

Luke 6:47-49

Our nation still has its eyes set on cleaning up after the devastation of hurricane Katrina three years ago. We have watched with anxiety as Gustav and Hanna pounded the coast, and even homes in our area of northwest Ohio are currently without power because the winds from hurricane Ike knocked tree limbs down and tore out electric lines.

We are familiar with the damage a big storm can cause. The image of rising waters and pounding surf and the destruction they can cause are all too real in our minds.

But the forces of nature are not the only troubles we may experience in life. The storms of hurt and anger, the ruin of loss and emotional turmoil can batter our lives much as the ocean can wreak havoc in a hurricane. What can we do to endure such threats?

Jesus, the great teacher, explains it all so very clearly with this simple example. How are the two builders different? What is the result of a firm foundation? What about a weak foundation? What is that firm foundation (see verse 47)?

Jesus is many things to all of us. He is the Son of the Living God. He is our helper. He is the great healer. He is the mediator between us and God, that path of salvation and restoration that we need.

He is also a teacher. He provides us with instruction on how we are to live our lives, how we are to serve the Lord, how we are to order our behavior so that it might be pleasing to God.

Yet, we have the choice to listen and learn, or walk away and ignore the wisdom of Christ. And if we choose to walk away from the teachings of Jesus we are like a man who builds his house without a firm foundation. The storms of life will cause utter destruction.

The teachings of Jesus are a firm foundation for our spiritual and emotional houses. With the firm foundation of Christ’s instruction we have the ability to withstand the challenges that life and other people may assail us with. Diligent study and learning of God’s word can help us build a faith that can withstand troubles and tribulations.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How are you building a foundation on the rock of God’s teachings?

Teacher 2

Matthew 13:33

One of my favorite things to eat (and there are so many!) is a nice piece of baked bread. And, of course, one of the key ingredients in good bread is the yeast. The yeast works to make the dough rise up and become fluffy. It gives the bread a softer texture and adds flavor. A small bit of yeast can really make things better.

Jesus continued in his teachings with another parable – a simple example of something familiar. To what does he compare the kingdom of heaven? What does the woman do with the yeast?

I find it interesting that this simple parable appears almost incomplete. Living a life obedient to God and a life which shares God’s love with others is like yeast. A woman takes yeast and mixes it in with flour until it is thoroughly blended. The end.

What about it? What happened to the dough? Jesus doesn’t give any more detail than that. But we can imagine what will happen to the dough. Since the dough has had yeast added to it, the dough will be much improved.

And the kingdom of heaven isn’t compared to a nice loaf of bread. It is compared to the yeast, something which will affect the outcome. The kingdom of heaven – that is, our ability to live as Godly and holy people – is not an end result, but an influence of change for the better. Just as yeast improve bread, our ability to live as children of God and people who imitate Christ can improve life.

So too are the teachings of Christ. The lessons Jesus present can serve as an additive to us so that our lives are much improved. We need to let the yeast of Christ’s teachings work its way all through our lives so that what we do and say, how we respond to life’s situations, and how we respond to God’s directing is aligned with the teachings of Jesus.

We can also serve as yeast to the situations in life. Bearing the wisdom and teachings of Jesus, we can be a positive influence with other people. We can share our learning with others who may be in a difficult situation.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you let the yeast of the kingdom of heaven mix thoroughly in your life?