Are you teachable? What does that mean? Miriam-Webster defines it as “capable of being taught, apt and willing to learn.”[1] In this age of technology, many older people have adapted and learned to use cell phones and computers, while others refuse even to try. We can easily understand the concept of being teachable as it applies to technology. When it comes to spiritual things, we also have a choice to be teachable.
I have a couple of friends who went down the wrong path in life for years and finally came to the end of themselves. Like so many people, they had to come to the end of themselves before they would turn to God and become teachable. Only then did they ask God for help, which changed their lives.
The Exiles Suffered Because They Did Not Listen to God
Jeremiah, the prophet, wrote a letter to the exiles in Babylon explaining the cause of their exile was not listening to the prophets God had sent. Jeremiah 29: 19 For they (the people left in Jerusalem) refuse to listen to me, though I have spoken to them repeatedly through the prophets I sent. And you who are in exile have not listened either,” says the Lord.[2] When God speaks of listening, He doesn’t just mean to hear. He means that we listen with the intent of obeying.
God often lets our bad behavior catch up with us so that we are willing to call out to Him. This is an act of His mercy because, at this point, we become teachable. In God’s mercy, the exiles were taken to Babylon, where God would refine them like gold in a furnace.
In both the Old and New Testaments, we find numerous references to refining gold and silver as a parallel of God’s refining us through painful trials. These stories of refinement help us understand the purpose behind the pain. Our refining is to conform us to the character of Christ. We don’t develop Christlike character all at once. Our trials forge character over time. Indeed, God is our Refiner. Psalm 66:10 You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver. [3]
Being Teachable Brings Light to the Darkness
The Lord wants to bring light to your dark situation. Are you teachable? Would you describe yourself as teachable when it comes to spiritual things? If you are, praise the Lord! If you aren’t teachable, the Lord will help you become teachable. The first step is recognizing the struggle. The next step is asking the Lord to help you overcome this life obstacle. The final step is making changes in your life with the Lord’s help. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.[4]
To hear more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/light-in-exile
[1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teachable, accessed July 1, 2020.
[2,3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[4] The New King James Version. (1982). (Php 4:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.