“Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.” – Psalm 143:10
I have been a teacher for many years, and when people find out that I taught middle school for over 30 years, they usually say something like, “Wow! Middle school? You must be a special person!” My response is always the same. “To teach children in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, you either hate it, or love it like crazy.” I was the latter. I loved teaching these kids, and I gave it my heart and soul. But as much as I loved it, I still made mistakes. Sometimes it was in something I said, and my students would eagerly point it out. We’d usually have quite a chuckle over it! Sometimes there were mistakes in the textbooks, and I would be the one to explain the errors to the children. I am sure there were mistakes made that slipped by the students and me on several occasions! Mistakes just come with the territory!
However, there is a teacher who never makes mistakes, and His textbook is error-free! That teacher is God, and His textbook is the Bible. There are so many lessons in life to be learned, and some of them take a very long time to master, but He is a very patient teacher. As His child, He teaches me continually, and sometimes He has to teach me the same lesson over and over before I get it! But He never gives up on me! The Lord states in Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”
God is also very thorough in His educating. He doesn’t just teach me a few things; He wants to teach me all things! John 14:26 states, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” When God teaches us, He goes beyond the traditional reading, writing, and ‘rithmentic. “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” 1 John 2:27.
What are the benefits of being taught by God?
- We gain knowledge and judgment. “Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.” Psalm 119:66
- We have peace. “And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” Isaiah 54:13
- We learn to love. “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” 1 Thessalonians 4:9
- We learn how to raise our children. “Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.” Judges 13:8
- We learn to identify sin. “That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.” Job 34:32
- We have salvation. “Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.” Psalm 25:8
- We learn His truth. “Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.” Psalm 86:11
I am so glad to know that God is my teacher. His lessons are exactly what I need in my life. He leads me through situations where I learn to depend upon Him, and He shows me the rich blessings I can have when I heed His teachings.
Teach me Thy way, O Lord, teach me Thy way;
Thy gracious aid afford, teach me Thy way.
Help me to walk aright; more by faith, less by sight;
Lead me with heav’nly light, teach me Thy way.
Long as my life shall last, teach me Thy way;
Where’er my lot be cast, teach me Thy way.
Until the race is run, until the journey’s done,
Until the crown is won, teach me Thy way.
(from “Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord” by Benjamin Ramsey)
“Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” – Psalm 25:5
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3 R’s of Spiritual Learning
- R – Recognition: Realize you’re a sinner
- R – Repentance: Turn from your sins and ask Jesus for His forgiveness of those sins
- R – Redemption: Accept Jesus as your Saviour and make Him Lord of your life
From here, you’ll have a new life in Christ, and the best teacher ever!
Jayne, Thank you for sharing these truths!