Am I Teachable?
We are slowly moving out of the fall colors into a time of dry dead looking trees but nothing about this state can look ugly even with highways and parks full of dead looking trees. YAHWEH truly smiles on this place. I visited Fall Creek Falls state park a few weeks ago as you can see by the images above. It’s been pretty dry here and I come to realize that fall is a dry time of year for TN, and summer is the rainy season so there was not much water falling over the falls. However, it is raining today, and I pray for nice healthy falls on my next “chasing waterfalls outing.” I was still able to capture some beautiful aspects of the park and even crossed that shaky bridge…..well kind of…. Next time, I will face the fear and go all the way across it. 😁 On the way home I stopped to drive up to the Mt Roosevelt Overlook. It’s beautiful up there and I never knew it is a view of the lake as well. HalleluYAH!
It’s been a few months since my last devotional and I pray that this one finds you in perfect peace, as true peace comes from our Father YAHWEH. I praise him for allowing me to be back here writing again. 2023 has definitely been a year of learning. I’ve been learning more about myself, and I notice a few things. I’m a curious person with diverse tastes and I try my hand at many things and this leaves me with a great number of interests and hobbies; but I’m not particularly good at any of them. For example, as you can see I write; but I’m no great author. I make soap, but my bars are not world renown. I can cook, but I’m no chef, nor am I a one million followed Instagram cooking, content maker. I have an advanced degree in Information Technology, but I’m not a highly sought after programmer. I am skilled in photography, but I’m no where close to being a professional photographer. There is a saying, my mother once introduced me to “jack of all trades, master of none”; Yep that’s me, I definitely fall under this category. So while I’m not particularly great at any one of these things, this year my Father YAHWEH has shown me something about myself that I actually do quite well. I always admit when I’m shown to be wrong, and I know how to say I’m sorry. This topic is heavy on my heart because this week I found myself having to apologize to a dear sister in the faith. We differ in interpretation of scripture and in the midst of discussing, more like bickering my points, I realized that I was in a position of where I felt the need to be right and make my point, rather than to share scriptural analysis in love. After going back and forth for awhile, it all just turns into “verse word salad,” no one is edified, and the conversation unfruitful. It was not my intention at all to make a point or be right, but that is what it came down to. I felt fine (prideful) after the conversation ended even with her no longer wanting to talk to me, because the scripture says in Titus 1:13-14 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14: not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. (NKJV) However, it was truly not done in love but in pride, and even if I am the one who is right; still, we have both lost the fight for the Kingdom.
So yes, I do embrace apologizing easily, because years ago during one of the last times I rededicated my life back to YESHUA, I remember having a need, more like an urgency to be honest with myself. I was reflecting on 1 Peter 1:7 that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of YESHUA HA’MASHIACH. (KJV) I asked YAHWEH to mold me and to take me through the fire like gold, showing me my faults so that I could ask Him to remove them and all things about myself that displeased Him. It was very difficult looking in that mirror, but I knew from then on no matter where I am in life, if I can’t admit that I’m not perfect and that I have faults, how could He possibly work in me to change them? It was imperative that I acknowledge what needs to be changed, and be open to hearing what my issues or faults are. As I said it wasn’t easy then, but I was a young fool, and over time I have come to embrace ripping off the band-aid and repenting when He shows me when I am behaving in a way that dishonors His Word and His name.
When a person is able to admit when they are wrong, they inherit a teachable spirit and that is when the real fun begins.☺️ I was just having a conversation with someone the other day remembering how only 4 years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to state what the 5th Commandment is if asked. However today, I’m digging into some of the most complicated writings in scripture; like Isaiah’s prophecies and Paul’s Epistles. As I discussed in my last devotional, people come up with diverse interpretations when dissecting the scriptures and I adamantly believe that a person must remain open to hear another’s interpretation because the RUACH only teaches one truth, therefore one interpretation. My iron could not be sharpened if I refuse to pull it out and place it up against another’s. Where would David or any of us be today, if he closed his ears to Nathan the prophet?
We are at a pivotal point in time in the world where scriptural truth is critical. Assuming that one person has all the answers and is 100% correct, 100% of the time in rightly dividing the word of truth is dangerous. The RUACH HA’KODESH teaches all and leads all of those who ask, into all truth. John 16:13 Howbeit when He, the RUACH of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. (KJV) HalleluYAH! What a beautiful and exciting verse. I believe that those seeking truth in scripture need one another to study with because for example, as I interpret a verse in my study time, I may feel that the RUACH HA’KODESH led me to an understanding; but at the conclusion of my study it is a feeling, a feeling that I’m right, and I’m confident in it. Then when I come together with another person to study with and they have come up with the same interpretation and even still another, well then at that point it is no longer a feeling, it is confirmation that it is RUACH led, or confirmation of the opposite. I believe this is the essence of 2 Corinthians 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. (KJV). Even YESHUA Matthew 23:8-10 states But you must not want to be called Rabbis, for one is your Teacher; all of you are brothers. 9: And you must not want to call someone upon the earth ‘Father,’ for one is your Father – who is in the heavens.10: You must not desire to be called Rabbis, for YESHUA Mashiach is Rabbi. This verse makes it clear that through the RUACH, YESHUA is our teacher who teaches one interpretation and one truth to us all. Peter further clarifies in, 2 Peter 1:20-21 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21: for prophecy never came by the will of man, but righteous men of ELOHIM spoke as they were moved by the RUACH HA’KODESH. (NKJV)
I love the Word of YAH! I love studying it, I love when people ask me questions, challenging what I believe I know. I love when I think I know something and then another points out my fault in understanding. LOL ! I will often make a statement like “Woe, you must got a lot of buckets over there, cause you keep throwing them filled with cold water on my face!” It’s refreshing, enlightening and powerful learning scripture together with others who are also zealous for the Word. I pray that we are all led by the RUACH HA’KODESH as we continue in our studies, and that we all make it into His Kingdom. However, it will be very difficult for those who hold on to incorrect understanding, refusing to allow the RUACH to lead them via listening to other well studied zealous for the Word, covenant keeping, followers of YESHUA. I personally believe it is 100% OK to be wrong, and corrected. If I always think I’m right, and I’m a fool if I do; how will I ever be able to correct myself or any scriptural understanding in a manner that pleases my Father YAHWEH? I don’t know about anyone else but historically, He has never allowed me to advance further until I have learned whatever it is He is trying to teach me. So ask yourself; “Am I teachable”? I am, and I do what I can to remain teachable, eager to study alone and with others, and open to hear wise counsel because I never know who He is sending to tell me “Hey Liana, you got that wrong,” so that through Him, I can get it right.
For anyone reading this and in need of it, I pray against the spirit of pride and idolatry of the heart because if you are a sold out disciple of YESHUA, we are on the same team and we have work to do for the Kingdom. There is no time to be held back because of a stiff neck and hardened heart!
Shalom & Berekah!
Just a few supporting verses
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of YESHUA HA’MASHIACH.
-1 Peter 1:7 (KJV)
Howbeit when He, the RUACH of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.
-John 16:13 (KJV)
This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
-2 Corinthians 13:1 (KJV)
But you must not want to be called Rabbis, for one is your Teacher; all of you are brothers. 9: And you must not want to call someone upon the earth ‘Father,’ for one is your Father – who is in the heavens.10: You must not desire to be called Rabbis, for YESHUA Mashiach is Rabbi.
-Matthew 23:8-10 (KJV)
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21: for prophecy never came by the will of man, but righteous men of ELOHIM spoke as they were moved by the RUACH HA’KODESH.
-2 Peter 1:20-21 (NKJV)
I therefore, the prisoner of YESHUA, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2: With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering (patience), forbearing one another in love; 3: Endeavoring to keep the unity of the RUACH in the bond of peace. 4: There is one body, and one RUACH, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5: One Adonai, one faith, one baptism, 6: One ELOHIM and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
-Ephesians 4:1-6 (KJV)
After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 2: Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. 3: Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. 4: Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. 5: And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
-luke 10:1-5 (KJV)
For the day of YAHWEH of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:
-Isaiah 2:12 (KJV)
When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom
-Proverbs 11:2 (KJV)
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
-Proverbs 16:18 (KJV)
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
-Proverbs 16:5 (KJV)
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
-Proverbs 2:3 (NKJV)
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
-Proverbs 26:12 (KJV)