Words from the Rock
If people love me, they will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Those who do not love me do not obey my teaching. This teaching that you hear is not really mine; it is from my Father, who sent me.
John 14:23–24 NCV
You’ve probably heard of the school of hard knocks (SHK). Maybe you’ve heard that it’s the people with the hardest heads that attend that school. Some SHK students eventually figure things out, graduate, and move on. But some just keep repeating first grade over and over again. Why do you think some people insist on learning things the hard way? Is it because they’re stubborn and thickheaded, and that’s the only way to get through to them?
It could be they’re slow learners or resistant to learning something new. Or maybe they’re snoozing in class or drawing cartoons when they should be listening. Whatever their reasons, some people set themselves up to be unteachable. They think they already know it all, and no one can teach them anything. Unfortunately, that’s the kind of attitude that sets a person up to be stupid.
Jesus wants you to embrace learning and to be teachable. He longs for you to love him so much, to trust him so completely, that you’re eager to learn from him. He wants you to train your ears to recognize his quiet voice—the one that comes from his Spirit inside of you—so you can know when he’s directing you and you can avoid learning things the hard way. Sometimes that quiet voice will tell you to wait on something because Jesus knows the timing isn’t right. Sometimes that voice will tell you to speak up about something because Jesus knows the timing is perfect. But if you’re not teachable, if you don’t listen, you will miss out.
How teachable are you?
My Prayer
Dear God,
I want to be teachable. I want you to live in me and direct me, and I want to be quick to listen and learn. Please help me do that.
Amen.
Final Word
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:9 NIV
Stone for the Journey
When I am teachable, I can learn.