Daily Thought for Tuesday, August 30th

August 30, 2011

The Back To School Series

The Spiritual Implications of Education

Part Two – Basic Fundamentals

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser:

 teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”

Proverbs 9:9

Today’s Thought:

“The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living from the dead.”  – Aristotle

Today’s Quotes:

“Education is a chest of tools.” – Herbert Kaufman

 

Today’s Question

“What office is there which involves more responsibility, which requires more qualifications and which ought, therefore, to be more honorable than that of teaching?” –  Harriet Martineau

Today’s Bible Verses:                     1 Peter 2:2-5 & Proverbs 1:2-5

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;  To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“Knowledge is not simply another commodity. To the contrary, knowledge is never used up.  It increases by diffusion and grows by dispersion.” – Daniel J. Boorstin

I believe, in the good old days, when times may have been hard, that education was probably better: the three fundamentals of a good education were referred to as the ‘Three R’s’: Reading, Riting [Writing] and Rithmatic [Arithmetic].

At one time in our educational system there was a prevailing philosophy that if a student could grasp the basics they would then be capable of using those basics to grasp more complex ideas and concepts.

Robert Frost said, “Education is hanging on until you’ve caught on.”

This concept of grasping the fundamentals and building upon them would be a good approach for us to take in our spiritual lives.

The first and for most concept we need to understand is that: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” – The Bible (Romans 3:26)

Secondly we need to understand that: “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” - The Bible (Hebrews 9:22 & 28)

Thirdly we need to comprehend that: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” – The Bible (Romans 10:13)

Maybe we could simplify this and call it the ‘ABC’s’ of faith.  We must Admit we are sinners; Believe Jesus died for our sins: And then Confess, repent and ask Him to be our personal Lord and Savior.

For those who are already Christians, I believe there is one fundamental concept we must learn, embrace and live and if we do I believe we will garner other spiritual truths as a result.  This one critically vital foundation to our spiritual education is this: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” – The Bible (Mark 12:30-40)

To accomplish this we must learn to trust in the Lord, walking by faith, not by sight and we need to realize we can’t rely on our own understanding but we must totally rely on Him.

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James Truslow Adams said, “There are two educations.  One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live.”  In order to have the best of both we need to get down to the basic fundamentals, embrace those and build everything else from there.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.” –

2 Timothy 2:15

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may I get back to the basics both in faith and knowledge and may I build my life on the truths of your love, your word and your will.