The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens—wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.” vs. 4
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Isaiah recognized that his primary function as a prophet was to teach people the way they could live God-pleasing lives. But beyond that he also realized that he had been uniquely gifted – he’d been given the tongue of a teacher. We know what he means. Some people simply have a gift for teaching and, blessed are those who have encountered such folks in the course of their education. They not only have the necessary knowledge – they also know how to pierce the often resistant skulls of their students.
What’s the primary secret of such teachers? Isaiah knew it well. He had learned never to open his mouth without first listening. Oh, that more of us could learn that skill! Isaiah seems to have made it a part of his daily routine and started every day with listening to the Lord. Perhaps it was a part of a meditation process, a time alone simply waiting in God’s presence and praying for the insights he needed to meet the challenges of each hour. Jesus followed this routine during his ministry, rising before dawn to listen for the whispers of God in the silence. Teachers who use their ears before their mouths will be especially equipped to reach the hearts of their students.
Thought for the Day: What have I learned from listeners?
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