responding to instruction

I remember my grade 10 geography teacher, he was a real dork. He wasn't the type of person who commanded much authority, we used to shoot rubber bands and spitballs at him while he wasn't looking. Once he got so angry that he made one of my classmates stand in the corner while he tried to continue teaching. Big mistake, the whole class was in an uproar and couldn't stop laughing, including the student in the corner. Needless to say, we didn't learn much in that class (at least not about geography). Compared to him, my math teacher's stature commanded respect, he was one to be feared. He was a great teacher, but no one would dare to step out of line in his class. That little bit of fear even drove us to learn and prepare for classes better.

We all react differently to instruction and instuctors. Anyone who says learning only depends on the student, should have spent one day in my grade 10 geography class. Do we respect, admire and trust our instructor, or do we feel disconnected, lack respect or trust for those who teach us? Our responses vary dependant on how we view our teachers, parents, pastors and friends. We are formed by those who instruct us, and accept instruction only from those who we truly trust, respect and admire.

This makes me think about how I view God as He instructs me. What motivates me to listen to His instruction and (but not always) follow? Do I liken Him to my math teacher whom I highly respected but distantly feared? Is He my good buddy with whom I'm somewhat of an equal, where I give a little and then He gives a little; or is He a distant dad who provides only nescessities; or is He a master, to whom I as a slave have little incentive to respond to?

Proverbs 29:19 says "a slave will not be instructed by words alone, though he understands, there will be no response." Have you ever felt this way? I have to admit at times I have. If we are to have a desire to respond, we need to know we are much more than slaves or servants. Galatians 4:7 tells us we are...

I've been reading a great book "The Way of the Wild Heart" by John Eldredge. He talks about the heart of our heavenly Father and how much He wishes us to feel as beloved sons (and daughters). I wonder how much we really grasp the depth of His love, His desire to live life's great adventure together with us, to instruct us step by step along our journey, share our joy when we learn and succeed, and lift us up when we stumble and fall.

So often we view Him has King, Master, Saviour, Teacher, Almighty God, our Provider just as we sing in our songs and hymns. But do we really comprehend that He is our Father, the one who loves us as His own? Do we feel as beloved children on whom He wishes to bestow His blessing, or do we feel as servants and slaves destined to only obey His commands?

So I wonder, who's instruction would you be more inclined to respond to? Perhaps we should consider more deeply why Jesus instructed us to pray using the words "Our Father..."

29 Jan 2009