While I was teaching preschool, we would always say, "Use your listening ears" or "You need to be a good listener". Well one day, as I was talking to one of the children, it dawned on me that they were listening, they just weren't doing what we were asking them to do. So, I started saying be a good listener and a doer. It helped, somewhat, but as teachers we would still see the same thing happening day after day from the same child(ren). Why won't they learn? Why do they keep doing the same thing, over and over, even after we have talked to them?
One day at school as I was pondering this while talking to the same child for the upteenth time, a thought popped into my head, why do I constantly mess up and not do what God wants me to do. Hmmm...James tells us in chapter 1 verses 22 to 25, "But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (23) For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: (24) For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. (25) But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
How many times have I sat and had my devotions, read God's word, heard what He has to say to me and I say, "Yes LORD, I will do that" and then I get up and go about my day, sometimes without a second thought as to what God has directed me to do. Or, I repent of something, like mismanagement of my finances, and ask for help and take the Dave Ramsey workshop, but time and time again, I spend money on frivolous things that I don't need or really want. Makes me feel a bit of a hypocrite when I am not being a doer but expecting the children to. But God is patient and merciful and continues to give me opportunities to be a doer.
While teaching preschool I probably learned more than what the children did. God would show me things every day. Mostly how much like a preschooler we all are. We are His children after all, and we do not always act like "adult" children, but like little children. Which would be good if it were in the faith department and we had the faith of a child. But we tend to be good listeners but poor doers. I know I'm that way.
But I'm learning, and I'm growing, just like my preschoolers. They eventually learn what they are supposed to, how to treat their friends, sit in group time, and walk down the hall. They become better doers. Now, I need to work on me. I need to do more than spend time reading and studying God's Word and praying. I need to be a doer. I need to forgive the person who hurt me and move on, I need to guide my children, who are adults, in a way that respects their adulthood and the right to make their own choices and shows them God's love, but show them His Word as well. I need to keep walking in faith, like God has been showing me He wants me to do, even if I can only take one step at a time.
Father,
Thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for your forgiveness when I mess up, when I'm not a good doer. Please help me to learn and grow and do in You.
In Jesus Name
Amen
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