Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008

TWG - August 20, 2008

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TWG - August 20, 2008
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Leviticus 26:14-44; Psalm 74; 1 Peter 2

Today is August 20, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. You are part of a devotional community where we put Christ first and our commitment is to spend time with each other and Time with God every day.

Yesterday was Tuesday… the last two days seem to blur together. I went to a CE meeting where we discussed our Vacation Bible School and how well it went, our upcoming Awana… we are getting very close and our Christmas Program. I need to act on that! I had lunch with John. While we were there, John told the waitress she did a good job, and I asked if she was good… so we quickly gave her the good person test! You can read about our encounter at www.honest-answers.myblogspot.com. I also have a link to the good person test. Check it out. I did some fixing of our puppet play area in anticipation of Awana. And then I ran to Roseburg High and whupped Phil in two sets of tennis! Later we had men’s meeting. We all looked a bit tired. I put a picture of Kirstin, a gal we witnessed to on the Blog at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com. Check it out.

This week’s theme verse is Hebrews 5:11-14 We have much to say about this, and hard to explain, since you are slow to learn. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to maturity"

You ought to be teachers. That statement jumped off the page and hit me square between the eyes! Who is he talking to? A select few gifted individuals? The leaders of the church? I immediately thought of the James 3:1 corollary which warns that not many of us should become teachers! So which is it? To teach or not to teach, that is the question! The James passage is a warning that teachers will be held accountable by God for what they teach… and for not “practicing what they preach!” It is not so much telling us NOT to become teachers as it is telling us to live like we believe. The Hebrews passage speaks with a broad brush stroke… you ALL ought to become teachers! We know that some of us are gifted as teachers (Eph 4:11) and that each of us have different gifts. So what’s the deal with this idea of a personal, universal obligation to become the man in front of the class? As I thought it over, I said to myself, “I think I’m going to learn an important Scriptural truth here!” So I went back to the basics. Matthew 28:19-20 where we find our marching orders. Go and make disciples of all nations TEACHING them to observe ALL THINGS that I have commanded you! If I am to be a disciple maker, I must become a teacher of disciples! That is one of the fundamental responsibilities of reproduction. If I am even to begin following God’s plan for my life, I’m going to have to pass on my faith. That requires teaching. And then I remembered where Jesus said, that when a disciple is fully trained he will be just like his teacher – Luke 6:40. That means that Jesus goal was to have his 12 disciples turn out to be the teacher he was. And we find that they carried on where he left off – they did not cease teaching (Acts 5:42). And in 1 Cor 14:31 it tells us we can all prophesy… a form of teaching. Here’s the insight for today. One important way to measure your maturity is whether or not you have graduated from learner to teacher. Somewhere along the time line of your Christian life you are supposed to make that transition. But like the Hebrews of the early church, many of us are stuck in our pew! We have not grown out of the infancy of excuses… “I’m not gifted.” “I can’t speak well.” “I don’t deal well with kids, infants, adults etc.” “I don’t know enough.” “I don’t like to teach.” “I’m not good at studying.” And on and on ad nauseum. According to the inspired Word of God, none of those are the real problem. The real problem is that you are still in diapers. You have never grown up. Excuses aside… grow up!

Dear Father… I have spent most of my Christian life telling myself that I am not the person you want as a teacher of your truth. I see now that I was wrong. I realize now that graduating from learner to teacher is a think of maturity and I need to quit making excuses and begin making that transition. Please bring maturity to me!

“Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”-

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