Daily Thought for Tuesday, September 6th

September 6, 2011

The Back To School Series

The Spiritual Implications of Education

Part Seven – A Complete Education

“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 ability to think straight, some knowledge of the past, some vision of the future, some skill to do useful service, some urge to fit that service into the well-being of the community – these are the most vital things education must try to produce.”  – Virginia Gildersleeve

Today’s Quote:

“The most important function of education at any level is to develop the personality of the individual and the significance of his life to himself and to others.” – Grayson Kirk

Today’s Question

Did you know that: “A teacher is one who brings us tools and enables us to use them?”  –   Jean Toomer

Today’s Bible Verses:                Ephesians 3:10-19

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,  According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.  For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“Real education should educate us out of self into something far finer – into selflessness which links us with all humanity.”  –  Nancy Astor

A complete and total education in life is more than the sum of classes taken, books read and exams passed.  It must also incorporate experiences, feelings ideals and the essence of the individual nature of the student.

This is true of our spiritual education as well.  A full spiritual education requires more than a Sunday School class, more than Sunday Sermons and more than fellowship and activities within the church.  It requires faith, reading the Bible, prayers, praising, experiencing joy, going through trials and tribulations, the giving of thanksgiving, being transformed and changed and allowing the essence of the unique and special individual God created you to be; to be developed, molded and shaped into what God alone can make it into.

It has been said: 

“The good teacher discovers the natural gifts of his pupils and liberates them by the stimulating influence of the inspiration that he can impart.” – Stephen Neill

This seems like a fitting description of the ‘Great Teacher’, Jesus.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “A good teacher makes hard things easy.”

How true this is of our Lord.  Even the hard times are made easier and bearable by His presence and the ministering of His Spirit in our lives.  We must just be open to allowing ourselves to be fully exposed to the totality of the education that He has for us.

And as students we must come to the realization that our education will never be totally complete until we see Him face to face.

“ Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” – The Bible (1 John 3:2)

An education, whether it be mental, intellectual, physical or spiritual is an ongoing process that really never ends:  the question is:  are we making the most of the educational opportunities that are being afforded to us?

“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 never loose a yearning to learn more: and may I always hunger and thirst for more knowledge, wisdom and understanding of You.