We Have to Be Taught
God’s love surrounds us every single day. It shows up in the food on our table, the roof over our head, the ground beneath our feet, and the rivers and lakes that refresh us. Yet even surrounded by such abundant provision, we do not naturally understand how to receive it, appreciate it, or walk rightly with the God who gives it. We have to be taught.In 1969, the U.S. Army assigned me to a twenty-one-month tour of duty in Fairbanks, Alaska. It was there, far from home, that I saw creation with new eyes for the first time. I realized the earth itself was God’s handiwork, and I began to understand that His love reaches into every detail of our lives.
But seeing His provision was not the same as understanding it. That understanding had to be taught. Today’s devotion is about that lesson — the lesson every believer must learn from the Teacher Himself.
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Opening Worship Song
Before we open God’s Word, let’s prepare our hearts with “Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord” — a simple, honest prayer set to music that echoes exactly what today’s devotion is about.
Scripture Focus
The psalmist prayed a simple but life-changing request:
“The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.” — Psalm 119:64 (KJV)
James reminded believers where every good thing truly comes from:
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” — James 1:17 (KJV)
Paul described the transformation that happens when God’s kindness reaches a foolish, disobedient heart:
“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” — Titus 3:3-5 (KJV)
Jesus told His listeners plainly why He came:
“When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” — Mark 2:17 (KJV)
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” — John 10:10 (KJV)
“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” — John 18:37 (KJV)
“And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” — John 12:47 (KJV)
Together, these passages tell one story: God gives generously, we fall short constantly, and Jesus came to teach, redeem, and restore us. Let’s look at what that means for us today.
Life Application
Provision Is Not the Same as Understanding
God’s provision surrounds every one of us. Sunlight, rainfall, harvest, family, friendship — these are daily proof of His steadfast love. However, provision alone does not produce a grateful, obedient heart. Left to ourselves, we tend to receive God’s gifts without ever learning to walk in His ways. That is why the psalmist did not simply thank God for the earth’s abundance. Instead, he asked for something deeper: “teach me thy statutes.” He understood that appreciation must be taught, not assumed.
We Come to God Empty-Handed
Paul’s words to Titus describe every one of us before Christ: foolish, disobedient, led by our own passions. Nobody stumbles into wisdom by accident. Left on our own, we drift toward selfishness rather than toward God. Consequently, the goodness we see in a mature believer’s life is never self-produced. It is the fruit of patient teaching — God’s Spirit renewing a heart that could never have renewed itself.
Jesus Came as Our Teacher and Savior
This is exactly why Jesus came. He did not arrive to congratulate the righteous; He arrived to seek the sick, the lost, and the foolish and lead them toward life. Because He is the truth, His teaching is never harsh or distant. Instead, He teaches the way a patient father teaches a child — with truth in one hand and grace in the other. He came so that we might “have life, and have it more abundantly,” not so we might live crushed under guilt.
What This Looks Like Today
Being taught by God is not a one-time event; it is a daily posture. Practically, that means opening Scripture and asking God to teach you rather than simply reading it out of habit. It means noticing His provision throughout an ordinary day and letting gratitude lead you back to Him. It also means staying teachable when the Holy Spirit gently corrects an attitude, a word, or a decision. Just as Alaska’s vast, untouched wilderness opened my eyes to God’s creation in a fresh way, an ordinary Tuesday can become the classroom where God teaches you something new about His love and His ways.
A Teacher Worth Trusting
Above all, remember who your Teacher is. He is not a distant lecturer; He is the Savior who gave His life for you. Therefore, you can approach Him without fear, knowing that His lessons always lead toward hope, restoration, and a deeper walk with Him. Whatever today holds, ask Him to teach you His statutes, and trust Him to lead you well.
A Word from a Fellow Believer
Andrew Murray, who wrote extensively on the believer’s walk with the Holy Spirit, taught that the Spirit’s ministry is to become each believer’s personal, patient Teacher — leading us step by step into the ways of God rather than leaving us to figure them out on our own. (Paraphrased from Murray’s teaching, as an exact verbatim quotation could not be verified from a primary source.)
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the earth that is full of Your steadfast love, and thank You for every good and perfect gift that comes down from You. Forgive us for the times we have received Your provision without a grateful, teachable heart. Teach us Your statutes, Lord. Renew us by Your Holy Spirit, and give us the humility to be led by You today. Thank You for Jesus, who came not to condemn us but to save us and give us life more abundantly. We trust You to teach us Your ways, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Closing Worship Song
As we close, let’s rest in the truth that no matter what today holds, we never walk it alone. Elvis Presley’s rendition of “Where No One Stands Alone” is a gentle reminder that our Teacher is also our constant companion.
Keep Growing With Us
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Acknowledgments
We thank:
- Pixabay for free, high-quality artwork.
- AZ Quotes for inspirational quotations.
- YouTube Gospel Music for timeless worship songs.
- We recommend GotQuestions.org for further Bible study.
Have a wonderful day and keep your eyes on Jesus and your spirits high.
— Johnny
“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” — Proverbs 23:7