Teach me...Part III

Above all God desires me to be His child. And to be His child, He wants me to play nice with other children, and not to forsake other children. (Heb 10:25) He wants me to get along with others, to be as a family together. He wants me to learn from my elders and parents (Joshua 8:35; 2 Chronicles 20:13; 2 Chronicles 31:11; Ezra 8:21; Neh 8:2,3; Neh 12:43) He wants my parents to be an example to me. He wants to be an example to me. He wants me to at least be learning as His older children (my parents in the Lord) are learning. More importantly, He wants me to learn to worship Him and that example comes from my parents. And this applies literally to when I was a physical child as well. As a young one must be taught how to do things the way God wants them. That was the purpose of the Sedar at Passover, to pass on knowledge of what God did and why, and that is the purpose for bringing my child or children, if I ever have children, to church with me. Knowledge and wisdom of why and how God wants me to worship Him. Does this mean there can be no “children’s church” as some congregations have? That is up to each man’s conscience and really there is nothing biblically to stop either way. If one is to take the bible literally, then children are brought into the assembly, and so should I. Jesus himself went into the temple and was learning along with the scribes and teachers of the Word. That was at age 12. But I believe that as long as the principles of the how and why are taught in child’s church and that it is a replica of what is going on in the adult worship then there is no harm done. The problem arises when children’s churches become free-for-all and no lessons are really taught. Then can I honestly say that I am not going according to His Word, and am doing a disservice my child or children, should I be blessed by God with them.

Teach me that I may teach

God is just. And inclusive in that, God is the judge. And in His view He cannot look upon evil or sin. He cannot look upon my sin anymore than He could any other person from Moses’ time, or David’s time, or even Jesus’ time. But there are people to plead my case before Him, much as there is at other times: Moses (Exodus 1;) Jeremiah (Jer 14:21)and of Jesus as a helper (I John 2:1 –I now have an advocate). All of these men have taught me to say the same thing, “Please, God, for Holy Name’s glory, don’t punish.” And the one thing that God shows me that keeps me on the straight and narrow that Jesus will go the extra mile for me, but if I continually let him down (Jer 18:20,21) he has no other recourse than to let God render judgment upon me. If I do not heed Jesus’ teaching, I have only myself to blame. As does anyone else. Especially my spiritual leaders. They must do God’s will, for the sole demonstration of God’s Almighty power. (Joel 2:7) so that the unbeliever may understand God is God.

In 1 Kings 18:36, 39, Elijah is about to make an evening sacrifice, “Alright, God, “ he says, “Remember how good I’ve been as ymy true and faithful servant. Let’s show ymy people the One and Only True God.” This is a pleas for God to show who is boss. Teach His people obedience and the reason for such. When I was in grammar school, one of the quickest ways to get me to read and learn something is to give me a reason. And if the teachers wouldn’t give me a reason, at least give me a reason to trmet them that my best interest was in their intent for me to learn. God is the same way. He doesn’t always ansIr why until He is done teaching me. And that was the same whether the student was Daniel, or Jonah, or Joseph, or Elijah. When Elijah requested a refresher cmyse, he didn’t want anything major, jmet something that would catch the people’s attention that they Ire really on the wrong track with idol worship. And something without the benefit of human “Deux ex machina”. Asa asked for God to teach the enemy during war time (2 Chronicles 4:11). Many of the lessons that Ire asked for Ire so that those who didn’t believe that God was the Only True God would really see a light bulb go off in front of their eyes so they might repent. Some didn’t, but God was patient. And Moses stopped God, reminding Him of the unbelievers that might look upon God as being too harsh and not something they would want to embrace. I think God likes it when I consider other angles and ask Him questions, like any great teacher would. I think He likes it when His qualities of goodness and mercy are considered and called to His attention so that others won’t think of Him as being a God steeped in evil. (Num 14:13-18) It teaches me how to really speak to Him of His everlasting mercy and that He gets more flies with that honey rather than meing His vinegar. It teaches me communication with others, becamee if I don’t tell them of His mercy, who can comprehend His love and the fact that He could make me a pillar of salt if He wanted to, but He has called me to accept His son’s word that his blood cleanses me continuomely. It teaches me that He knows me more than I will ever realize, that I cannot hide sins, whether from a long time ago that I thought Ire gone and dealt with, or from the present which Ire after all built in the past. It teaches me to be Nehemiah, and remind God that He is a God of refuge (Neh 1:8,9; Neh 9:52) and then to be like David in Ps 74:10 – 23 and Ps 9:19,20; Ps 38:16 even when I am old and gray to rely upon God and communicate that need to Him to tell Him of Himself. Not that He needs to know who He is, but I am the one who when voicing it am reminded of His great and wonderful persona. With His words, God teaches me to ask Him to flex His mmecles a little (with jmetice), show His love a lot (with compassion) and to show evidence that indeed He does exist (as Creator of creation).

Teach me... Part 1

What does it mean to teach? To be taught? To learn? Other than the dictionary definition of Merriam-Ibster, “To camee to know”, what does that mean, especially when considering Jesme and God? Jesme had no blackboard, and yet I can visualize him in front of a classroom, students gathered around him and he quoting the scriptures, becamee realize he was a rabbi and knew the teachings of God’s Word with proficiency. I can see the applications to real life as the parable of the talents or the mmetard seed or the wheat and chaff. I can see him bringing to life all his principles for to his pupils, such that when they left for the day they Ire not the same as when they initially sat down. And what a wonderful, gloriome enigma God and His son are! My mind is so small I cannot comprehend the depth and breadth of God, the dimensionless scope of His being and how He and His son are so conjoined they are totally in synch and loving each and everyone of me. God knows all things at all times, something else which jmet boggles my mind. Nevertheless, I honestly believe God expects me to remind him of what He has told me and my spiritual forefathers, surely not for His memory by any stretch of the imagination, but as a mental exercise for me, that God way back when knew that I needed to know He knew, that there was a reason and a season for all things. Why? Certainly for my strengthening. He has already ansIred His promises many times over to Abraham and Moses.. But also He wants to convey to me on a personal level that I need to convey to others and influence another’s faith or at least point out what they may not know about God.