Continued from: How to be a Disciple
Why are so few people teachable? They can be taught academic truths, but not
spiritual ones. I don’t mean the people
sitting in the pews being “taught” stuff they will never apply. James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the
word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what
it says.”
A teachable disciple is that courageous soul who is prepared
to change around the furniture of her life.
She knows there are two ways to do this – the inefficient, self-reliant
method of trial and error, and the more practical method of following the counsel
of a spiritual coach.
I was not a particularly teachable person during my teen years
and my twenties. I harbored some
insecurities and had acquired some unhealthy defense mechanisms. Rather than seeing spiritual counsel as
helpful, I’d defend my behavior, making life change difficult at best.
The defended self will never change. The self that is exposed, that can welcome
reality no matter how sorry or ugly it may be, is the self that will be
surprised by grace.
As a discipler you’ve only got so much energy. Better to spend it on those with their arms
open wide, not crossed over their chest.
Look for them. Pray that God
reveals them to you. I estimate that 1
person in 10 has this posture.
Continued in: How to be a disciple, Pt. 3
I love to talk to the ones with their arms crossed over their chest, this gives me a chance to talk to them about the Father and I much he loves them. This will give me a chance to see their arms open wide along with their heart.