Be Teachable

229 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Ti 2:14, “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.” (2 Tim 2:14) What things? Obviously the things that Paul has been speaking about in the preceding verses. The word “remind” here is interesting, it means, “to bring to remembrance quietly.” No need to get in a shouting match with others over these essential matters of doctrine. Pr 15:1,2 reminds us, “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.” And in Pr 25:15 we read, “ a gentle tongue breaks a bone.” There is an old saying that “he who raises his voice has lost the argument.” I like the quote from the Nobel peace prize winning Anglican bishop Desmond Tutu, who said “Don't raise your voice, improve your argument."... Doctrinal arguments are improved by prayerful study of Scriptures. Pray before you open them up! Pray that the Holy Spirit would open them up to you! It's part of His job! Jesus said in Joh 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” And in Joh 16:13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” He won't teach you these things if you are not correctable! Be correctable! Don't you know that you will not know it all this side of heaven? Pr 12:1 says, “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid.” There is a spiritual law at work connected to HOW we hear the Word of God. Jesus said in Lu 8:18 "Therefore take heed HOW you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him." The more teachable and correctable, you are in your approach to Scripture, the more light you will be given, the Bible becomes more and more an open Book and you will be amazed at how much you will see the concept of Scripture interpreting Scripture at work!