TEACHABLENESS
The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I turned not backward. Isa. 50:5, R.S.V.
There is probably no word in theological circles that can start an argument more quickly, or raise blood pressure more surely than the word perfection. Too often perfection is viewed as a level of performance that one must achieve, beyond which there is no more need for growth. That challenging goal, however, always seems to be just beyond the reach of even the most earnest. And this is where the controversy arises. Should one keep on striving? Or should one just claim forgiveness...and rest content?
Any concept of perfection that focuses upon our performance, or holds to some plateau of goodness which then earns God's approval, is bound to run into these conflicts. In seeking for a more adequate (and thus more trouble-free) understanding of this nebulous goal of Christian growth, I have been impressed with Isaiah's assertion that God has opened his ears to hear truth; Isaiah, in turn, is entirely free from resistance or rebellion. Isaiah is teachable!
God has many things to teach us--about Himself, His plans for us, His paths of blessing. Since truth is the means God uses to draw us back to Him, our response to that truth becomes an extremely vital issue. What is more, God intends to keep on telling us the wonders of His character, of the plan of salvation, and of the mysteries of nature, throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. What better preparation for heaven than to become the kind of person right now who will eagerly be open to the Divine Teacher?
Furthermore, when God knows that it is time to work on the next "round" of character development, He will find the task either easy or difficult (or even impossible), depending on whether He finds us to be teachable. Those who, like Isaiah, can say, "I was not rebellious," will find growth into His likeness to be both rapid and accurate.
But teachableness is not something one simply chooses to wear, like a grin. It isn't a matter of one's casually saying, "I think that today I shall become teachable." To be teachable means to trust the Teacher! It means trusting that he will not lead us into a life of drudgery. It means experimenting in our lives with what He has taught us, seeing that it is very good, and returning for more. It means knowing Him!
The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I turned not backward. Isa. 50:5, R.S.V.
There is probably no word in theological circles that can start an argument more quickly, or raise blood pressure more surely than the word perfection. Too often perfection is viewed as a level of performance that one must achieve, beyond which there is no more need for growth. That challenging goal, however, always seems to be just beyond the reach of even the most earnest. And this is where the controversy arises. Should one keep on striving? Or should one just claim forgiveness...and rest content?
Any concept of perfection that focuses upon our performance, or holds to some plateau of goodness which then earns God's approval, is bound to run into these conflicts. In seeking for a more adequate (and thus more trouble-free) understanding of this nebulous goal of Christian growth, I have been impressed with Isaiah's assertion that God has opened his ears to hear truth; Isaiah, in turn, is entirely free from resistance or rebellion. Isaiah is teachable!
God has many things to teach us--about Himself, His plans for us, His paths of blessing. Since truth is the means God uses to draw us back to Him, our response to that truth becomes an extremely vital issue. What is more, God intends to keep on telling us the wonders of His character, of the plan of salvation, and of the mysteries of nature, throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. What better preparation for heaven than to become the kind of person right now who will eagerly be open to the Divine Teacher?
Furthermore, when God knows that it is time to work on the next "round" of character development, He will find the task either easy or difficult (or even impossible), depending on whether He finds us to be teachable. Those who, like Isaiah, can say, "I was not rebellious," will find growth into His likeness to be both rapid and accurate.
But teachableness is not something one simply chooses to wear, like a grin. It isn't a matter of one's casually saying, "I think that today I shall become teachable." To be teachable means to trust the Teacher! It means trusting that he will not lead us into a life of drudgery. It means experimenting in our lives with what He has taught us, seeing that it is very good, and returning for more. It means knowing Him!
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