I n examining my spiritual walk I have been coming back to these questions often: Do I have a teachable heart? Can someone easily approach and perhaps correct me? Do I have a spirit of humilty? I have come to regard these questions as true indicators of the barometer of my spiritual health.
Consider this passage in Hebrews:
Though he was God’s Son, he [Jesus] learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do. -Hebrews 5:8 (MSG)
I was a little surprised by this passage. I had never thought of Christ as having a teachable heart. He was certainly humble, but he was also learning just like you and me?
This makes Christ more accessible. While it is easy and even comfortable to focus on the Messiah as God in the flesh, perfect in every way, it is I believe important that we relate to His humanity. He didn’t show up on the scene with all the answers according to Hebrews. He doubted in the Garden of Gathsemane, he wept over Lazarus’ passing, and he became enraged at the entrance to Herod’s temple. I can imagine Joseph showing his son how to plane a piece of lumber so that the edge is true. Jesus was human, for a time, and we miss so much if we overlook this.
Another passage in the book of Mark helps clarify the importance of the teachable heart.
People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” -Mark 10: 13-15 (NIV)
What is so beautiful about children is their lack of pretension. They are masters at pretending, and yet they do not pretend to have all the answers. As we grow up, we get a little funny about this. Studies have shown that when someone is asked in a survey to share their opinion on a topic they know absolutely nothing about, they will still offer an opinion. The reason? They do not want to appear uninformed or unintelligent! Isn’t that hilarious? It reminds me of when an innocent bystander is caught by a CNN reporter. All of the sudden their vocabulary rivals a Yale professor. Sometimes I’ll listen to these interviews and paraphrase in my head what the person just said, translating it to a non-live-interview kind of setting.
“We tried to ascertain the the victim’s condition and determined that all vital signs had ceased.”
Turn the cameras off and it becomes, “That dude was dead!”.
Ask a child’s opinion on a topic and they will most certainly be honest with you, even if that means saying, “I have no idea what you’re talking about…does this have anything to do with ice cream or fire trucks?”.
I challenge you today to consider that you don’t know very much, and to look at this World through the eyes you had as a child. Open yourself up. Become malleable, and seek Jesus. Be transformed.
The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 12: 15 (NIV)
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Hi Marty! Great that you are using what we are discussing in our class in your blog…very, very cool. I'll be sure to visit your site more often. I love it!! I will also look for you at church…we are still kinda trying to find our way around Southland, but I will do my best to spot you, come over and give you a big hug!!
Thanks Jayne – I'm really enjoying your class! I'm emailing you later about a "revelation" I had on the topic of persuasion!