Teachableness is a Worthwhile Personal Goal
Teachableness is a worthwhile personal goal for this new year. Learning more of God’s Word and growing in relationship with my Savior hinges proportionally on the degree to which I am teachable.
Stephen’s speech to the Sanhedrin is beautifully recounted in Acts chapter seven. All goes well with the high priest and his colleagues as long as Stephen doesn’t challenge or contradict their long-held views and opinions. However, when Stephen begins to rub their fur the wrong way, the atmosphere suddenly changes. “When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious” (v. 54). These so-called leaders refused to entertain the notion they could be wrong and so rejected the truth. “At this they covered their ears” (v. 57). Stephen is stoned to death, and the Sanhedrin add the sin of murder to their hardened hearts.
Teachableness is the quality or condition of being teachable. It is all-important in our walk with God. How can we ever hope to learn and grow if we reject everything with which we disagree? No one knows it all. Every one of us still has so much to learn when it comes to God’s Word and living a life that pleases the Lord.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24 KJV). The religious leaders in Stephen’s day knew this Scripture, but ignored it as it applied to their lives. Let us not make the same mistake.
Thankfully, God is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger, and abundant in forgiveness. For that we can all be grateful. He knows better than us how much we need Him. “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust” (Ps. 103:14 KJV). It requires humility on our part to recognize and admit that we don’t always get it right and we still have room to grow spiritually.
“Heavenly Father, my desire for 2021 is to grow in Christlikeness and in the knowledge of your Word. Forgive me when I am set in my ways and think I have it all together. Break up the fallow ground of my heart (Hosea 10:12). Open my eyes, ears, and heart to your truth, even when the truth hurts my ego and opposes my preconceived conclusions thus knocking all my neatly lined-up ducks to the ground. I need You more today than ever. Help me to be teachable in heart and spirit. It’s the only way to learn more of your Word and grow in relationship with my Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you for loving me so much. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
Teachableness is a worthwhile personal goal for this new year, and it is absolutely critical to my overall standing with God. “Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me your law” (Ps. 119:29). “The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer” (Ps. 6:9). “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Ps. 34:1).