ONE of the character trait instructions we pressed upon the heart and mind of the young student at CCA was Teachability. It is defined as “being eager to learn and to be corrected.” As I often told the students, I can always at any moment know who is teachable and who is not by watching one’s body language as they entered the classroom; their demeanor, tone of voice, eye and ear contact. Jesus often prefaced or closed his instructions with “He who has ear to hear…..” A proverb that goes along with this is:
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. Prov. 9:9
CONVERSELY:
“He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself” Prov. 9:7a
BUT what if I find myself in the spirit of being dull of hearing? Well, there is always the corrective means of grace found in prayer: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psa. 51:10). I could recite a myriad of similar references, like Psa. 139:23-24 or Phil. 2:12-13.
I ENJOY collecting quotes. A favorite in line with this particular musing is, “For all find what they truly seek” – Aslan. Which brings us to another STAR moment – Stop, Think, Acknowledge, and Respond – in bringing every thought captive in our quest toward Living Logically, thinking and living Biblically.
With that introduction, here is another instructive reading from None But The Hungry Heart. Somewhat out of the norm, I’ve included below a follow-up personal observation to this Hungry Heart musing.
In the inexorable riches of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10; Isa 30:15; Job 2:10; Jas. 1:2; Prov. 21:30
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1-5. Love Draws And Conforms
“Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jer. 31:3).
God is the first and only Cause. He always makes the first move. “For God so loved. . . that He gave”; “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you” (John 3:16; 15:16). Even the hunger of heart necessary for our response to His love comes from Him. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus” (I Pet. 5:10). He brought us to His Son; He will make us like His Son.
“If you feel the drawing of God within, cherish it as you would cherish a great treasure. If you are aware of a deep hunger, if you are entering into a closer walk with Him, do not look upon it carelessly, nor treat it lightly. But if you do not feel the divine drawing and hunger for God, cry to Him that He will give it you; and ever remember that the desire for hunger is the beginning of hunger, and that you cannot feed upon the Lord Jesus Christ until you are spiritually hungry.” -H. McI.
“Our Lord is generous in His provision, but He is neither casual nor wasteful. There must be a real hunger and felt need. It is a fixed principle with the Lord that He does not move until something like desperation makes it evident that it is His move.” -T. A-S.
“No one is able to come to Me unless the Father who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me” (John 6:44, Amp.).
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Additional Observation:
I AM not exactly sure when the Self-Esteem Movement got its start. I suspect it is another one of the counter-culture ideas of the ‘60’s we are seeing bear fruit in our current rather divisive and belligerent society. One encouragement however is seeing published articles in notable journals lately, lamenting this occurrence, calling for the return to instruction in Self-Control.
SELF-CONTROL was another character trait instruction at CCA, usually for the month of January. Noting that it is a Fruit of the Spirit, something that we really do not possess naturally, there are synonyms to be studied along with Self-Control: humility, honesty, and patience (another fruit of the H.S.). These are things learned and imprinted through the trials of our faith. We should note that when one is young. the thought of “troubles” are that they are to be avoided if at all possible. But in time you find they are unavoidable. And as one gets on in years, like this gray head before you, you come to understand that they are in fact meant as blessings all along, remembering once again that in developing ones character, “Everyday you are become the person you will be forever.”
THE thing about self-control is choices. Do I want to go through those necessary, narrow paths of difficulties (Psa 23:4-6), or avoid them?
A QUOTE worth repeating: “If I had the power of God for my life, I would change everything; if I had the wisdom of God I would change nothing.” Kaitlan Bui
