God Is Our BEST Teacher

young girl reading Bible on couch

Have you ever read a book and wondered what the author meant in a particular section? How great it would be if we had the ability to discuss it with the author himself. If you knew the one who penned the words then you could ask them.

Being an author myself, I more than welcome people to discuss the things I write about. As a Christian, we have the opportunity to discuss the greatest book ever written with the Author Himself. If you know Jesus, who is The Word (Jn 1:1), then you know the Author. Although He wrote through the pens of men, He is the Originator. And He is more than willing to help you understand what He says.

So as you sit reading the Bible, imagine being with your heavenly Father and asking Him:

“What does this mean, Father? I don’t understand this verse.”

“Does this have anything to do with me?”

“What are You trying to tell me?”

I often hear women say, “I wish I could have the kind of insight she has!” Or “I wish God would talk to me like that!” Or “Where did they get that from this passage?”

The good news is…

God wants to teach you!

He wants to talk to you and give you comprehension of biblical passages.

You don’t have to be some spiritual giant or have formal biblical training. Surely a maturing faith and good training greatly aids in comprehension, but God is able to help you understand whatever you need to understand at this point in your walk so that you can become more like Christ.

The Holy Spirit Himself is the One who gives us understanding. He is our Teacher and the One who leads us into all truth (Jn 16:13)

But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie…. (1 Jn 2:27 NLT)

Isn’t that exciting news?!
That God Himself wants to teach you?

And He is the BEST Teacher because He knows everything about you—how you think, your past, your personality, your tendencies, strengths, weaknesses, etc. (Ps 139). He knows where you are this very moment in your spiritual journey and what the next step should be in moving you forward. He knows what trips you up and what truths you have difficulty in accepting.

We can go to Him at any time and ask for clarification. (Jas 1:5)

Just be careful to approach God’s Word with the proper reverence and respect. These are the very words of God Almighty. Don’t try to make Scripture mean what you want it to mean. Let God teach you what it means. Don’t lean on your own understanding (Pr 3:5).

And remember as with any subject, it takes time and effort to learn.

This is what you will need for God to teach you:

  • A clean heart
  • A desire to learn
  • An open, humble heart
  • Willingness to do the work: reading, studying, meditating
  • Time
  • Total dependence upon the Holy Spirit
  • Willingness to apply what God shows you

So my friend, the next time you find yourself struggling to understand God’s Word considered going directly to the Author Himself. Don’t try to understand His truths in your own effort, He promises to teach you if you’re teachable. It’ll be worth all the effort!

But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

…We understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor 2: 10-12, 16 NLT)

Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. (Ps 25:8-9 niv 84)

Related Blogs
Do You Have a Teachable Heart?
Hungry Roots
What to Do When the Bible Seems Confusing
Why We Need a Deeper Understanding of God’s Word

 

 

 

 

Except where indicated all Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV. ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

(NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.