Day 6)  3 WAYS TO DEVELOP A TEACHABLE SPIRIT

Disciples of Jesus are by definition, “learners.” The word “disciple” comes from a Greek root word meaning “to learn.”

In my early days of walking with God I was hungry to learn. In those days, I heard and read a lot about “a teachable spirit.” The Body of Christ in the 21st century needs to return to the emphasis on being “teachable.” As followers of Christ we have a lot to learn, and a lot to “un-learn.”

The psalmist certainly understood the need for a teachable spirit. He prayed God would teach him. He said, “Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.” (Psalm 25:4) If the authors of Scripture needed to learn, I’m certain I do! In what ways can we develop a teachable spirit?

1) READ THE WORD
The only reliable source for the knowledge of God is the Bible. The truth of the Bible can fall on unresponsive hearts and fail to penetrate and do it’s work, (like the seed that fell on hard ground in the parable of Jesus) however, if we are “unteachable.”

2) CONFESS YOUR SIN
Unconfessed sin of every kind is always accompanied by the sin of pride which closes our hearts and ears to God’s Word. We can become entrenched in an unwillingness to learn and as a result, our spiritual lives begin to “dry up.” The only right response is confession.

3) TRUST THE SPIRIT
Today, as you open the Bible to read, ask God to forgive you of every sin, and to stir your heart and mind to receive His instruction. And ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth. Paul reminds us the Spirit is our best Bible teacher. “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.”
(1 Corinthians 2:12)

Remember, “it’s what you learn after you know it all that really counts.” Do you have a teachable spirit?

-JKB