The Ultimate Teacher
Everybody needs a teacher. A baby needs to learn how to sleep, walk, and eat solid foods. A child needs to learn how to speak and write.
In every season of life, we need teachers to help us grow in knowledge and wisdom. While there’s a lot we can learn from people, we need to learn to grow spiritually as well—and God has given us the tools necessary to grow in every season.
God’s Word was given to teach us about God. As we read Scripture, we can see God’s character in how He interacts with His people over the span of history. We can learn about God’s laws and the ways in which He desires His people to live. We can also learn about ways in which we can love those around us.
We are also given the Holy Spirit who lives within us. Part of the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives is to instruct us and guide us into righteous living. Righteousness is living according to God’s way. The Spirit teaches us about God’s heart and desires for our life.
All of these things help us grow spiritually. Just as a parent uses every method possible to help their child grow, so also God uses many ways to help us grow spiritually, because He loves us.
God doesn’t grow angry with us when we mess up. He doesn’t grow tired of us when we make a mistake. He continues to teach us and counsel us because of His great love for us.
However, we can’t learn from God if we’re not spending time with Him. In order to grow spiritually, we must be in His Word daily. And we need to be talking to Him in prayer.
Take some time today to spend time with God and study His Word. Talk with God about where you are in life, and what you want to learn from your relationship with Him.
Remembering God
Have you ever been awestruck by a sunset? Or left speechless by the meticulous details of the living cell, the human eye, the mysterious ocean, or the vast universe? How often do you think about what God has made, or the ways that He has worked?
The psalmist Asaph, wrote:
“I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy, What god is great like our God?"
Psalm 77:12-13 ESV
One of the best things we can do is remember God—how He gives good gifts, writes the best stories, and is constantly making beauty from ashes. He created us, pursued us, and even gave His own life for us.
But remembering God takes intentionality.
Remembering God doesn't happen on accident, which is why we have to intentionally commit to reflecting on Him each day. Purposefully remembering God’s bigness helps us recognize our smallness. Deliberately recalling His goodness helps us understand our deep need for Him.
Pondering God’s work and meditating on ...
“And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el. And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, ...
The Mission of God
All of our lives are spent on something. Most people spend their days focused on growing a family, building their career, or amassing possessions.
While none of those things are necessarily wrong, they can become distractions from our ultimate goal in life.
In the book of Acts, we see Paul’s transformation in Christ. As a result of meeting Jesus and being changed by His grace, Paul spends the rest of his life preaching the good news of Jesus.
For Paul, God’s grace and salvation are so great that nothing on this earth is as important as God’s work.
Paul says that nothing in His life matters as much as telling others about God’s grace. His goal in life was to finish his own race well by faithfully accomplishing as much of the mission of God as possible:
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace."
Acts 20:24 NIV
The mission ...