What lessons do you remember? Only the mistakes? Did you realize that it’s equally important to remember the good decisions, the ‘better’ choices as it is to never forget the bad decisions and choices? It is. How can we ‘accent the positive’ (old movie musical) if we don’t remember the good too? It really is OK to act again on those good choices … learnings are to be acted upon!
Perhaps it’s an issue of who is being honored by acting on good decisions? Do we take the credit? Do we acknowledge the hand of the Lord in/on our lives? Or… have we not given Him access to us? Do we try and act on the concept of – ‘doing it my way’ rather than seeing we are in a partnership with the Lord, growing into who we are as good Ambassadors? [2 Corinthians 5:17-21]
Maybe the question is how are our lessons, our learnings leading us? One of the biggest learnings we need to learn at the beginning is… how to follow. Many of us don’t see ourselves as followers… we’re more the ‘leader’ type. But in this case, our following may prove to be an example for others. Sounds like an oxymoron that following may be leading – but it is.
Some of the corroborating verses:
“You shall walk [that is, live each and every day] in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long in the land which you will possess.” [Deuteronomy 5:33]
“Establish my footsteps in [the way of] Your word; Do not let any human weakness have power over me [causing me to be separated from You].” [Psalm 119:133]
“If anyone serves Me, he must [continue to faithfully] follow Me [without hesitation, holding steadfastly to Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]; and wherever I am [in heaven’s glory], there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” [John 12:26]
Those are only 3 verses that talk about following and what the result is when we do. From the Old and the New Testaments, we are always encouraged to follow the Lord in everything that we do. And never forget the benefits of abiding… John 15:4. When it comes to spiritual and eternal issues – following the Lord is always the best choice.
Following is also the quickest method to learning our lessons. Remember too that lessons don’t need to be painful but too often when we try and do it alone… it is. Another issue is that if you don’t learn your lessons… then you are doomed to repeat the error thus learning again the lesson(s) until you do learn them. You might just as well pass the test the first time.
Learning and knowing our lessons gives us confidence in what we do and say because we have a foundation from which to act that is not shifting sand but solid ground. I also believe that every lesson becomes a plateau from which you add further understandings. We never really get to the end of a topic, subject because it is all designed on the basis of line upon line, precept upon precept. I don’t believe the Lord ever expects us to learn it all in one huge gulp; nor is He surprised when we seem to need a refresher.
Learning… Lessons are for our benefit. We learn, we grow, we mature from both our good decisions as well as our bad… and it’s all important.
