Sunday ~ April 29, 2012

Sunday ~ April 29, 2012

Ezra 7:10

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. 

In this series we’ve considered Ezra 7:10 as a model for Christian living in: studying God’s word, living it out and now finally, teaching it. The previous three devotions were probably easy to follow and agree with. Studying Scripture and applying it to your life is a given in most Christian circles. But what about teaching the Bible? You may be thinking that you’ve never been to Bible college and that your calling isn’t to stand in the pulpit and preach. What would this have to do with you? But actually, it has a lot to do with every believer!

We seem to have bought into the notion that teaching from a stage or lecturing in a classroom are the only ways we can teach people. I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time remembering what my last instructor taught me in a classroom setting. But, as the parent of 4 kids I do know that I don’t stand in front of them at a whiteboard for a daily lecture; not even close. I spend time with them throughout the day, pointing out colors and numbered objects, teaching them about our world as opportunities arise. When we play games we don’t spend the entire time memorizing the rules either, we play.

As Christians, every one of us is called to teach. This is a vital part of discipleship and is commanded by Jesus in the Great Commission (Matthew 29:19-20). We are called to study, do and teach what we’ve learned to those we are in relationship with. Just as I teach my kids through our relationship, we are called to teach true, vibrant, biblical Christianity the same way. Jesus didn’t show up, give a six hour lecture and then leave the planet. He grew up on Earth and then spent three years in relationship with the disciples as he taught them. It isn’t a complicated thing to do. Spend time with people and share what Jesus is teaching you in life. Pretty simple, isn’t it?

Ask God to show you someone you can invest in, disciple and teach.