Ready to be taught?
Because the LORD is righteous and good,
he teaches sinners the path they should follow.
He leads the humble in the right way
and teaches them his will.
With faithfulness and love he leads
all who keep his covenant and obey his commands.
(verses 8-10)
Read Psalm 25:1-10
Most people have asked God to teach them something or show them what to do. Maybe how to be a better husband or wife, or how to get along with people at work or at school. In essence such prayers are an invitation for God to reveal to the person their own sin and make them humble.
Nobody likes to be reminded of his or her sin. We prefer to keep our pride and dignity. But if we aren’t ready to face our sin and swallow our pride, we aren’t ready to be taught or ready for God to change our lives.
Richard Foster once said, ‘When we genuinely believe that inner transformation is God’s work and not ours, we can put to rest our passion to set others straight’. If we want relationships to change, then we have to be prepared for God to change us, and that usually includes some very heavy soul-searching and some uncomfortable moments as we ask others to forgive us.
Many life lessons I’ve had to learn have been accompanied with tears, but the tears go and the change in me remains.
Lord, you never stop teaching me. Help me to learn and not shy away when you call me to change. Amen.
by Jörg Ernst, in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)
Visit the Daily Devotion archives page.