Meditation

06/17/2022

“I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.” (1^st Corinthians 14:18-19)

In our lesson for Corinthians, we are talking about being clearly heard and understood. If you are a teacher of Romance languages , people in several languages can pick up the general idea of the subject matter, but if you are a teacher in church, general ideas are not good enough. You must be clear and yes, even slow down at times so that all understand exactly what is being said and in the context of the teaching. Christian teaching and learning are illuminated by the Holy Spirit, but they do not circumvent the mind. The substance of the Christian faith is intelligible, and the communication of the Christian faith must be rational. The study desk and the prayer closet are both essential both teaching and learning. Teaching is an attempt to communicate, not to display personal spiritual powers or gifts. Teachers serve learners’ needs rather than satisfy personal ego.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, let us always remember that what we tell people is only important for their conversion to following Christ, if they truly understand what it is we are telling them. Clarity is supreme when we are helping someone to build a foundation that is solid as rock, for it is built on a foundation of sand, it will gradually fall apart and so will their faith. Today we continue to pray for those who are suffering in body, mind, and/or spirit, with friends, family, for those we don’t know, especially the people in Ukraine, as they are fighting for their very lives and way of life. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“The Ten Commandments are not optional!”

KNOWING GOD:

“So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, ‘Go over before the ark, of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among ou in the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:4-7)

Even a mound of stones used an an object lesson, can serve as an effective and aid to learning the lessons of faith. The stones taken from the bed of the Land of Promise became a powerful teaching tool for future generations. In every age, the people of Gd have tangible reminders . In every age, the people of God have tangible reminders of the Lord’s guidance and deliverance—-a country church house , a hospital where God’s healing mercy was experienced. Such memorials can provide vivid lessons in the providential work of a living Lord.

I AM:

“He (Jesus) taught them many things by parables.’ Jesus knew the people and used parables to help them understand His teachings.’” (Mark 4:2)

Parables were powerful teaching tools in the hands of the master Teacher. The parables of Jesus are among the best known stories in the world. Most the people were farmers, growing crops for their families and to trade in the markets; some raised goat and sheep and other animals for the same reasons, and all were used in ritual sacrifices by the priests as tithes to the church, which supported both the priests and their families and gave them food to eat. Though the stories Jesus told were about everyday things, they pierced to the very heart of spiritual truths. As teachers, we need to use stories from everyday life to help others see the radical effects Christian faith should have in our lives.

2ND THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” (Luke 2-46)

Asking and answering, one of the most ancient educational methods in the world, played an important role in he religious instruction of first century Jewish boys. In the Temple scene, Jesus was not “grilling” His teachers, as some suppose, but was asking for information. Question asking should not be the exclusive prerogative of teachers; it is important for learners to raise questions, too!