DEVOTION: Are We Teachable? ~ Ray Hawkins

Some of my grandchildren are under the age of six. I have the pleasure and the frustration of looking after them at least once a week. Mary’s there with me too. I let them play some appropriate games on my computer. Sounds lovely! It is. But then again it is frustrating.

They are good children, strong minded and alert. However as parents and grandparents know, the child thinks he/she knows how to do ‘it.’ One was playing a game but was going in the opposite direction to the arrow. Regardless of an older brother or an oldie like me the child wouldn’t listen. When he lost the game he thought life was unfair. I guess given time he will become teachable.

Knowing what he should do, trying to convey it and not being ‘heard’ reminded me of many adults I’ve met. The Christian ministry has many wonderful moments. It also has too many sadness’s. Some of the sorrow comes from unteachable disciples. They know better than the plain teaching of scripture. ‘Ears they have but hear not’ isn’t confined to Israel in the Bible. Many moral and spiritual pitfalls have such people’s footprints and claw marks as testimony to their fall.

In any arena of life the ‘know it all’ ultimately ‘blows it all’ and usually leaves many wounds on family, friends and workmates. Mary often conducts training programs for would-be writers. It is a most satisfying ministry, most of the time. Again the problem is with a ‘would-be’ who wants to do it his/her way and simply wants Mary’s endorsement. There is an unwillingness to accept the proven and required discipline. Then the ‘would -be’ will wonder why he/she ‘is a ‘never will be.’

The Bible is God’s manual to be taught. Within its pages are instructions to influence every area of our lives. It is His heart and mind we should hunger to understand. I’ve been a minister for nigh on 50 years and I still need to heed the following verses. I’ve been a writer for less time but I still need to take notice of God’s wise words.

Proverbs 9:9:Give instruction to the wise, and they will become wiser still; teach the righteous and they will gain in learning

Ps.25:9: He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way. 

Ray (still needing to be taught) Hawkins

Ray Hawkins is retired after 30 years as a minister. 

He is author of five books of Biblical meditations which you can see on his blog site. His newly released, Bethlehem's Warrior Baby is about to hit the shelves.

Do visit his new blog and say hello!