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God's School by |
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God's School by |
When did you finish school? My answer would be about 25 years ago! That is, I finished my formal education in earthly school. But there is another school that I did not enroll in until the day of my salvation and will not "graduate" from until my life is over. That is God's spiritual school. From the moment of the new birth to the time we go to be with Him, He gently and patiently teaches us about Himself, about ways we can glorify Him, about ourselves and our need to grow in grace. It's both a blessing and a responsibility that our inner man can continue to grow and learn our whole life long, even though we see our outer man stop growing and start deteriorating! Certainly, it is more valuable to invest in spiritual growth than to invest in the outer man which will soon cease to exist. "...for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18b
Let's think for a few moments about the similarities of earthly school and spiritual school:
Both have a unique classroom. No two classrooms in the world are exactly alike. Each has it's own physical surroundings. Each has it's own unique combination of students. My spiritual classroom is the unique set of circumstances God has brought about in my life. I can recognize that and be thankful for that, or complain and resist. As God's student, I will certainly benefit less from His lessons if I am not content with my "classroom." "The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied:" Proverbs 19:23
Earthly school lessons include review. Having some teaching experience myself, I firmly believe that repetition is the key to learning. God knows that in my human frailty I can never really learn something with only the introductory lesson. Therefore, I should not be frustrated when it seems to me that God is teaching me the same lesson over and over. How thankful I should be that God wants me to really "get it!" He's never frustrated over my slowness in learning. He never says, "How many times do I have to tell you?" His patience and repetition of lessons are expressions of His goodness and love. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Romans 15:4
In earthly school how does one become a good learner? By desiring to learn, submitting to the teacher, and studying the lessons. This is the same in God's school. "What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way [that] he shall choose." Psalm 25:12 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2:15
These are a few similarities between earthly school and spiritual school, but there are also some clear differences.
First, God is the perfect teacher. He never "tries to teach" me. He teaches me and I try to learn. In earthly school the human teacher tries to teach and may not succeed. If there is failure to learn in earthly school, it may be the teacher's fault, the student's fault, or both. If there is failure to learn in spiritual school, the blame falls squarely on my shoulders.
In earthly school, the standard format is lessons, then a test. However, in my life I have seen God often give me the test, then teach me the lessons. Not doing so well on the test clearly reveals to me my "need to know," therefore I am much more ready to absorb the lessons! Twenty-two years ago a big test came in my life when our daughter was born with Down Syndrome. I began to learn lessons after that test about being patient, how God's choices are always best for me, and how to trust Him as I became more and more aware of my own inadequacies. Two years later, God underlined every lesson he was teaching me by giving us a son with Down Syndrome. Now, these "tests" have become great blessings in our lives! "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." Psalm 119:71
Did you ever consider that there are two kinds of knowledge? In earthly school we gain head knowledge. This is just knowing the facts and being able to apply human reasoning. Certainly there is some value in that kind of knowledge, but another kind of knowledge far exceeds both the value and endurance of head knowledge. That is heart knowledge. Heart knowledge comes only through God's revelation to us. It requires the elements of faith and trust in God. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17
Dear friend, the most valuable knowledge you can seek is the heart knowledge of God. First, we must know Him as our personal Savior. There are pages on this website that explain clearly how to know for sure that He is your Savior. If you are already born into His family, consider yourself a student in God's school. Are you seeking to know Him more each day? Are you content with your "classroom," ready to learn from each lesson and test God brings into your life? I pray that you will be challenged to continually grow in grace.
"But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18
Click here to read the Peace Be Still message by Marcy Bunce
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