One of the questions my wife and I tend to ask each other often is, “What is the Lord teaching you?” We do this for accountability but also because we know the most important relationship in our lives is not first with each other, but with our God. Our relationship with God is not receiving disconnected information but hearing and heeding teaching from our relational God. Psalm 119:33-40 shows us this. It shows us that one of the reasons the Lord teaches us His Word is so we may keep it (verses 33-34). The Bible is not man’s revelation of God, but God’s revelation of Himself to man. Therefore, He is the one leading us and we are following (verse 35). Learning from the Lord begins by understanding Him and what He says in His Word. Yet, this is not merely information for the intellect. Learning from the Lord goes deeper and transforms the heart. It is not checking off a list but checking our hearts to see where our delights are. Where do we look for rest? Where do we look for relief? Where do we look for peace? Our eyes will be indicators of our hearts of what we are hoping in. What God’s Word gives to us, though, is the answer that He is the teacher for life and He is the Lord of life. He confirms His promise most clearly in Jesus Christ, His life, death, and resurrection for our salvation. Our response of repentance of sin and trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord is evidence we fear Him, which shows we have listened to Him as teacher. As our hearts are transformed, we continually grow into the image of Christ, fighting the battle where we turn away from sin and long for God. Longing for God is proof we are learning from Him.

Reflection Questions

Where have you looked to something other than Christ for hope recently? 

How would you answer the question, “What is the Lord teaching you?”