Today’s
Scripture Reading (July 12, 2019): Psalm 94
There is an adage, “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.”
The words are intended as an insult to all teachers who have ever lived. They
are also patently wrong. There is nothing worse than sitting in a classroom
with a teacher who can’t live out the subject matter. And if they have never
lived out their instructions, then their words are worse than useless. If you
want to learn something, then the teacher must be the one who can do it. In
almost every profession, there seems to be a disconnect between the theory
necessary to do the job and the actual practice of the trade. The common
refrain is often “my teachers didn’t prepare me for this.” If that is true, then
either the teacher couldn’t do, or had built a wall between the theory and the
practice that they never wanted to cross.
The Psalmist argues that God is not a teacher who cannot do. He
teaches out of his vast knowledge. God knows and shares his knowledge with us.
And he lifts up his expectations for us. The Psalmist argues that God punishes
us when we do not follow his teachings. He expects righteousness and justice
from us. And because he has taught us what is right, we cannot say that we do
not know.
But, as Christians, we also know that God, in the form of Jesus,
took the extra move to step into our reality and walk with us. He not only
taught us, but he also walked the walk as well. God knows, but he also does.
And beyond that, Jesus gave us a physical reality of God’s mercy and love,
traits that God has always possessed. He expects righteousness and justice and
works toward that reality in our world. But he also extends his mercy and love
when we fail. And it doesn’t matter who we are; his grace is earmarked for
those of us who fail – and as far as I know, that includes all of us.
Tomorrow’s
Scripture Reading: Psalm 97
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