What's in a name? (#7)

In one of the books I was reading this week, I was struck by a comment that what we think about shapes our spiritual and emotional growth almost more than any other thing. In an era when we are bombarded daily with messages from a multitude of sources, there is a great temptation to think about what the world around us wants us to think about. Yet one of the few things we have control over is what we allow our minds to dwell on and mull over. That’s one of the reasons that spending time focusing on the names of God has been so beneficial for me. The name for God that is going through my mind this week is this:
 
TEACHER: God was called a great teacher in the Old Testament (Job 36:22). Jesus was called teacher by those who followed him and he acknowledged that this was a correct title for himself (John 13:13). The Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would live in those who follow Jesus and he would teach us (John 14:26). It is clear that one of God’s clear names/titles is a teacher.
 
During this coronavirus pandemic, teachers have received a lot of attention. They have been (appropriately) praised, lauded and encouraged. They perform a difficult role at the best of times and even more so when forced to teach in a virtual environment. They are doing yeoman’s work. It got me thinking that if God is a teacher, and he is the best possible teacher, then what does this look like? What does it mean? What does a great teacher do? I could think of a bunch of things and I am certain you could think of more.

• He provides timely and important information. He shows me things that I had never seen or understood before about myself and this world.
• He instructs by giving practical direction and advice on how to live and act. A good teacher is never only theoretical but helps us apply what is needed to life.
• He directs me to know myself better and to understand my heart and motivations. Good teachers always lead you to grow personally.
• He teaches at the level I am at. A good kindergarten teacher will teach their students at a kindergarten level, not a 5th grade level. God always teaches us based on where we are currently at.
• He lets me take risks and make mistakes without failing me. Good teachers make you try things over and over to gain skill and competence.
• He corrects and points out my mistakes without ever connecting these to my identity, which is completely set.
• He celebrates even my most modest accomplishments. Good teachers are cheerleaders for the ones that they teach.
• He explains things in my language and style. The best teachers adapt their teaching to the learning styles of their students. God created me and knows how I learn best.
• He pushes me to engage with other students who are learning different things and in different ways than me so that I can benefit. Teaching is never a completely solitary one-on-one experience. Even those who tutor a single person always do so with the purpose of integrating them into the larger class.

What a teacher!
 
There are two more implications from this:
One – God is the perfect teacher because he knows what he is doing and talking about.  A teacher can only teach what they know, not what they don’t. God knows all things. He has experienced this life. He knows all information, all motivations, all the details of your life and mine. He knows completely and utterly and is totally qualified to teach.
Two – We choose whether we will let him teach us. A student always has the freedom to ignore the teacher, to do things their own way, or walk out of the class altogether. That choice is yours and mine. But when we ignore the teacher and walk away, it never ends well and we will not become all that the teacher is looking to help us be and achieve.
 
So let’s trust our perfect teacher. Let’s listen well and do the assignments that he gives us, knowing that he will walk along side us as we do.