God's Learning Curve
Writer Author Rita Sue Hanks
Christian Article
:
Bible Teaching
- Fiction No
We Learn As We Go
We're called to be disciples of Christ! Isn't that exciting and amazing? So true, it is, but on the way to the adventure we have need of some schooling. In order to reach our full potential we first unlearn the old and then relearn the new. Heaven knows the full potential of every man and has great plans laid up for all who will pursue the things of heaven. God calls and we have answered the heavenly call. Our hearts begin to open up to seeking and learning how to apprehend all we are destined to do.
This beautiful Psalm begins with the instruction to "Fear The Lord". In another place we are instructed that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom":
Psalm 34:9-14
Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking guile. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Now this tells us clearly that there is a beginning we must begin at. And common sense will tell us that beginners need time to learn how to grow in what they have determined to begin doing.
Because of the atoning and cleansing capabilities of the work of the blood through Christ's death on the cross, God has great patience and mercies covering us.
In the beginnings of learning to fear the Lord we reside under what the world might call a "learning curve".
Learning curve: Answers.com
Learning Curve: "A graph that depicts rate of learning, especially a graph of progress in the mastery of a skill against the time required for such mastery. Frequently a "learning curve" is used to describe the effort required to acquire a new skill (e.g., expertise with a new tool) over a specific period of time. If it's a complex task requiring you to reorient your way of thinking as with learning new software, what makes it a "steep learning curve" in the mental strain of comprehending a new language rather than the time or physical effort involved. The effort to achieve significant progress and sufficient skill to start using a tool may be fairly predictable, but achieving real mastery requiring much more time, effort and making original discoveries about its use. Often learning brings one to an "impasse", only resolved by a seemingly radical intuitive change in direction, an "ah-ha moment" or "breakthrough" representing "S" curve learning of a different kind and on a different scale."
In the beginnings of our search to learn, we are being nourished on "milk", which is the basic spiritual truths which serve to build a right foundation. Learning the knowledge of his great love for us and his awesome power over all things. Learning what he has done for us through the blood of the cross. Trust is being built, and as we grow in our zeal to know and seek him, our abilities to trust him grow.
We can observe from scripture that even the disciples of Jesus went though years of misunderstanding, not yet fully aware of what they were called to do.
Mark 6:52
For they hadn't understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
Their hearts were said to be hardened, meaning they had not been fully changed by the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Then, finally, little by little, their "Ah-ha" moments and breakthroughs into new ways of thinking set things in their proper perspective.
But growth requires progressive weaning from the things of childhood. We must gradually but surely progress into being weaned from the milk and strengthened on the stronger meat of his word. All of the Lord's dealings with his children are for the purpose of bringing them to maturity. Babies are expected to grow up.
1 Corinthians 13: 9-12
For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.Now we see as through a glass, darkly, then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
Transitioning trials of spiritual warfare serve to mature us in the faith. We often experience some distress, both physical and emotional. This is especially true in times of growing from one spiritual level up to the next. The Lord, I believe, looks on these perplexing moments, hours or even days as young adolescents who experience "growing pains".
1. Pains in the limbs and joints of children or adolescents, often attributed to rapid growth but arising from various unrelated causes.
2. Emotional difficulties that occur during adolescence.
3. Problems that arise in the initiation or enlargement of an enterprise.
In the natural application, our children persevere through these difficult times, then finally and surely grow up into adult frames.
We must become as trusting little children, who move with the parent from stage to stage, enduring whatever it takes to finally get grown. We must simply and surely set our whole hearts to submitting to our Father's sure "growing up" methodologies. The times of clouded sight and ignorance of childhood must begin to be changed into times of clear vision and direction through submission to the Holy Spirit.
These sometimes painful, but necessary, growing pains are only a small part of a very large and eternal plan.
John 16:13 ...
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth
Hebrews 12:11-13
All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.
Our Father will always work with us and show the way to escape being overtaken by temptations and will give grace to endure on the way to and to overcoming! He is a God of strategies and will grace the obedient disciple with subtle wisdom with stealth as a serpent while remaining as harmless as a dove.
1 Corinthians 10:
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
He will be faithful to send his comforts to us, both by the indwelling spirit and by word and song through other sources.
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About the Writer Author
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Texas
Country:
USA
Email:
ritahanks@sbcglobal.net
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