Friends,
I am only writing this morning to the very few people out there who have never skipped a class in all their years of school, never ignored words of wisdom from their parents or elders and never thrown away an instruction manual from some purchase that had "some assembly required" marked on the box.
Because if you, like me, have never done any of those things (that ridiculous "Steve is lying" light keep blinking and beeping again behind me...I've got to get that fixed) than you have capitalized on every piece of wisdom, instruction and knowledge that you could have possibly gained in your ___ (insert your age here) years.
OK, every once in awhile...very rarely...not often...I have missed a piece or two of fairly useful instruction. I'm the guy who gets the box at home, tears open the plastic holding the nuts, bolts, wrench and instructions and proceeds to toss the manual into the garbage and figure it all out on my own. Oddly, I'm always amazed that the production company of this random thing I'm putting together always included four extra bolts, three plastic spacers, two lock washers and a giant wing nut that have no purpose...or so I didn't find one.
We, or maybe just "I", have a tendency to ignore the help and teaching that is right around us.
"I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go." Isaiah 48:17
We have an active God of abundant teaching in our life. And it's relevant! That's the best part of it all. God's teaching applies to every project, production and process of our lives. God's guidance works in every relationship, decision and situation we find ourselves in.
I know there have been times in life where I've said, "They can't teach me anything new!" "I don't need them." "What do they know that I haven't figured out already?"
Jesus said, "Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own." John 7:17
So trust that teaching today and give it another shot. Read God's word. Share your concerns in prayer. Listen to what Jesus was teaching his disciples. And then apply it to your life.
My guess is that you'll quickly find that your life will be blessed by it, and in time, your relationships will heal, your direction will be clearer, your grief will be comforted, your trauma will be soothed, your hope will be brighter and your situation will improve.
Allow the wisdom of your loving God to impact your life...and you might just find a few less nuts and bolts out of place.
Lord, teach me and open my heart to learn. Amen
Still in One Peace,
ps
