Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – October 8, 2014
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:25-26
Growing in grace is an educational process with the Holy Spirit as the lead teacher. Christians who enjoy Christ’s abundant life stay enrolled in the Spirit’s school of transformation. We learn directly from the Spirit as He guides us through God’s Word and reveals truths we’ve never comprehended before. Because the Bible is dynamic we repeat reading the same passage and discover a nugget of wisdom we are final ready to apply. The Spirit reveals truth to the teachable.
God the Father commissions God the Spirit to teach God the Son’s commands. The disciples did not comprehend this at first, but later were examples of the Spirit’s inspiration, as some of them penned Holy Scripture. Yes, what Jesus lived and taught was later clarified and applied under the Holy Spirit’s influence by the balance of the New Testament writings beyond the Gospels. The educational process of becoming more like Jesus started after His resurrection and continues today. With a humble heart, we learn the heart of Christ by the Spirit’s teaching.
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come” (John 16:13).
In what area of life do you need to learn and grow? Where does the Holy Spirit need to educate you? Look to Him in how to lead like Jesus. Maybe it’s growing in the art of asking questions, instead of dictating what needs to be done. Team members who learn through discovery are more apt to follow through. Perhaps you validate the Spirit’s leading in a decision with other Spirit-filled believers. Pause where others do not have a peace and proceed where there is affirmation. Take the time to stay true to a prayerful educational process and you will learn God’s best ideas.
Furthermore, learn from teachers who submit to the Holy Spirit as their primary teacher. Cold intellectual instructors only puff up our mind’s pride, but warm insightful teachers feed our heart’s humility. Men and women who are honest about their own struggles never run out of educational opportunities to share with others. The Spirit’s insights germinate in a soul in search of truth and its application. Thus, we are wise to learn directly and indirectly from the Spirit’s teachings. As long as we remain humble learners, we will understand more the fullness of Christ.
“Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, use the Holy Spirit to instruct my heart in Your ways. Keep me a humble learner.
Related Readings: Psalm 25:5, 143:10; Luke 12:12; John 1:16; Ephesians 3:19; Colossians 3:16
Post/Tweet today: With a humble heart, we learn the heart of Christ by the Spirit’s teaching. #wisdomhunters
Additional Resource: 4 minute video, Dr. Stanley- The Holy Spirit: http://tinyurl.com/nmev4sx
Order our new book, The Way of Wisdom: A Journey Towards Spiritual Growth, just out October 1st! Boyd’s one minute book video- http://bit.ly/1nhZ2bt
