| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Lifelong learning” Our Bible verse for today: “Then Job replied to the Lord: I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:1-2 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Sometimes learning hurts” I’ve heard it said that “Sometimes stupid hurts,” and I’m sure that is true. It means that when we do stupid things, we experience unpleasant results. I remember also once being told that sometimes learning hurts, and education often comes through pain. That was said to me by a college professor at the University of Kansas. I was taking a class in debate and was required to participate in a debate tournament. I hate debating. I always have. I don’t like to argue – not even for fun and certainly not for a grade. But for this class I was required to participate in a debate tournament against debating teams from other universities. It was torture for me and it showed. Thus, as he was chuckling at my discomfort, the professor said, “Sometimes learning hurts, and education often comes through pain.” That statement is true and it is the lesson Job learned through his long period of suffering recorded for us in the book of Job. Job suffered a lot, but he also learned a lot and he came out of it a better and stronger man. (I suppose I also came out of my debating experience a bit better and smarter as well, but I still didn’t like it.) There are many ways we engage in lifelong learning, but experience is certainly one of the most important. Sometimes we just have to experience things (sometimes painful things), in order to learn the lessons God wants us to learn. It’s usually not fun or pleasant, but it is important. Experience is an excellent teacher. The question for us is if we will learn from our experiences, and if we will use those experiences to become better. Job did. He was a better man on the other side of those struggles. I suppose I was too. Through my unpleasant debate experience I learned a lesson about the value of good preparation, and about how to cross verbal swords with other people to make a point, and about sticking with something and seeing it through even if I’m not liking it. Learning sometimes does hurt, and education does sometimes come through pain. But experience is a good teacher and the smart person will learn from his or her experiences. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville) |
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