Matthew 5:2 And he began to teach them.

The following verses are some of the most famous statements in all literature, hitting people between the eyes with their simplicity and power. Jesus taught His disciples a lot by example, but He didn’t hold back from direct teaching with words, either. It is significant to me that when Jesus got into what was considered “teaching posture,” His disciples came to Him. They wanted to be taught. That’s why Jesus gave them such a concentrated stream of deep truth. The very first thing He said to them was that they were blessed, because they recognized their spiritual poverty. He told them that such an attitude qualified them for heaven! Jesus was the ultimate Teacher, but the Holy Spirit prepared His students as well. This is what I preached on, the 15^th of this month. We need to be seeking to keep learning from God, however He chooses to teach us. Like the disciples here, when we sense a “teaching moment” is coming up, we need to be all ears. He often teaches us when we aren’t really aware of it, and only recognize the lesson in retrospect, but we should be eager to be taught at all times. Frankly, that can be risky, because not all lessons are pleasant, but when they are God’s lessons, the outcome is always good.

I feel like I am in a training period right now, with everything up in the air about making a trip to see my siblings. All sorts of ideas and opinions conflict, and I need to distinguish what God is saying in all the uproar. As I was telling someone just yesterday, I need to die to the issue myself, so that I can hear accurately what God is saying. I first heard that way of expressing the issue over 40 years ago, in an article by Joy Dawson, but it is certainly true. However, it’s much more easily said than done. There are seemingly countless variables in the current issue, and I have an opinion on each one. We will be having an online conversation with our daughters later this morning, and we need to hear what God is saying – all four of us. We need to respect them, and they need to respect us, and all of us need to be seeking God’s answer for every one of the questions. And in it all, we all need to keep growing as God’s children, listening obediently to Him and doing as He desires, for His glory.

Father, thank You for the current learning situation. Thank You that the service yesterday went so well, despite the small group. I pray that we would indeed grow in every respect as You desire and intend, to be all that You intend us to be, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!