Thursday June 16, 2011

As I began to write this jlog, I looked and saw that this is the 100th post since I started in late February. It has been a true joy to take what I am learning in the bible and log my thoughts of the most amazing reading that one could ever ponder–the bible.

Well this morning, I was reading again in Psalms and came across a passage that I had memorized years ago. It is found in Psalms 25:4-7 and says, “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.”. As I looked at this passage, I saw three distinct teaching methods that are critical for the learning process to become ingrained in a student. The first tool of learning is showing a student what you want them to learn. It is the tool of being an example by your lifestyle. Two thousand years ago, God sent His only Son on this earth to show us by example what we were supposed to do. Jesus lead by example for his disciples to see and then to follow.

The second teaching tool is cognitive learning. He says to teach me your paths. We not only need to learn by example, but we need to learn by gaining knowledge as to what God’s paths are so that we can follow them. There are various places in scripture where we are encouraged to meditate on God’s word day and night (Psalms 1; Deuteronomy 6). Knowledge opens up the door to make right decisions.

The third aspect of teaching is to guide us in the truth. This tool involves encouraging and redirecting someone who is moving out and needs to be encouraged that their steps are in the right direction. It also can involve redirecting them to more healthier choices and actions. Its giving direction to someone who is already moving out for the Lord.

David, who wrote this Psalm is pleading with the Lord not to remember his sins of his youth, but to remember him because of His goodness. In this process of learning, we are going to make mistakes, but as we see others by example and learn by meditating on His word and then move out, tranformtion will take place in our lives.

On this journey, become a life long learner by incorporating these three teaching tools in your own personal life.