stephen R Harrison

“Our Merciful Teacher”

“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long.

-Psalm 25:4-5

We bought our son a 3D printer for Christmas. There was a learning curve for him as he began printing a cat jewelry cup for his sister, a guitar pick holder for his worship pastor, and various other gadgets and fidgets. During one print, he yelled, “Dad, help!” I went to his room and noticed his printer was jammed. The print nozzle was blocked, and the print bed was dirty and unlevel. A few other issues plagued his printing process. We were at a learning junction. We researched how to maintain the printer, and soon he was back printing 3D thingamajigs. 

At one point, I said, “You need to learn about this printer. If you don’t stop and listen, this will happen again.” Learning how to print 3D novelties is one thing. Learning how to follow the Lord is quite another. It is the most satisfying. In Psalm 25:4-5, David asked the Lord to “show me,” “teach me,” and “guide me.” David didn’t want God to show, teach, and guide him in just anything. He wanted to know his ways, paths, and truth. Why these ways, paths, and truths? Because they were the best, highest, and most trusted. They were from “God my Savior and my hope”. David reminds us God will teach anyone who asks.

What keeps us from asking God to teach us? Many things. Pride. Self-sufficiency. Distrust. Ignorance. Prayerlessness. Distractions. Disappointment. Hurt. Cynicism. Impatience. I’m sure there’s much more. When I’ve been too stubborn to ask for driving directions, I’ve ended up lost, which usually cost me more time than if I’d swallowed my pride and asked for help. We need the Lord to rid us of all these sins as we humbly ask him to teach us. 

I’ve sometimes wanted to give up when I’ve been frustrated while trying to teach someone something. On a few occasions, I have! What prevents the Lord from giving up on us when we resist and avoid his teaching and guidance? Psalm 25:6 reminds us of his “great mercy and love, for they are from of old”. The Lord’s patience, mercy, grace, love, and other attributes are perfect – from old or the beginning. They have no origin, as He has no beginning. His characteristics are perfect in every way and always have been. He is the merciful teacher, the gracious guide, and the patient leader. When we ignore his instructions, he remains present to teach when we return. When we attempt our solutions, he is patiently steadfast. His great mercy and love stem from his covenant to never leave or forsake us. He desires to teach us, walk with us, and love us. He is the one who has said, “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19), “Learn from me” (Matthew 11:29), and “Remain in me” (John 15:4). 

As we approach Easter, we may be still and know He is God. May we allow him to teach, show, guide, make, form, and even correct us from his great mercy and love.

Questions: 

How have you resisted the Lord’s teaching and guidance?

In what way do you need Him to teach you?

Prayer:

Jesus, you are the great teacher, my Rabbi. Please show us your ways. Teach us your paths. Please guide us in your truth. You are merciful. You are gracious. You are compassionate. In you, we place our hope. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Read: 

Psalm 25:4-10

Action Step:

Determine where you need the Lord’s teaching the most. Write that down. Ask him to teach you. Share that with a trusted brother or sister in Christ. Discover Scripture to help you learn his ways, paths, and truth in this area.