Week 52—Thursday John 6:33-37
John 6:33-37
JESUS CHRIST MEANS EDUCATION
The fifth thing Jesus means to me is education. I’ve always felt uneducated. I have nothing but a college degree, and from a small college at that. I have some honorary degrees but I’ve felt uneducated when in company with the really educated. When M.A.’s and Ph.D.’s get their degrees by dissertations on “The Theology of E. Stanley Jones,” my reaction is, “Have I a theology?” What theology I have is a by-product of evangelism among the intellectuals of India and other parts of the world. An author of twenty-three books? It all seems a mistake, for I never intended to be an author. I simply write when I see a need and the urge is upon me. Then somehow I must be educated. The secret is in Jesus. He is the Awakener—Awakener of the total person, including the mind. Since I’ve never felt educated I’ve made life and people educate me—a lifelong process. My mind has become a magnet, so I pull from every person, every situation, some information, some truth to further me. And as I am compelled, or impelled to give, so I am compelled to get in order to give. An Alpine guide was buried in an avalanche. On his tombstone were put the words, “He died climbing.” If any inscription should be put on mine, it might be, “He died learning.” For Jesus has given me the Counselor, and he keeps me alive to life. Another secret is perhaps this—that I’ve found it is easier to act yourself into right thinking than to think yourself into right acting. In other words, “He that is willing to do shall know of the teaching.”
This all leads us back to the Word become flesh. If the Word does not become flesh it ceases to be word—it becomes words, which means it becomes nothing. So Jesus Christ being the Truth awakens me to search for truths which invariably lead me to the Truth.
O Truth, I thank you that you are keeping me on the stretch to know more of truth. Convert my mind every day from error to truth, from lower truths to higher truths, from truths to the Truth. In your name. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: Truth will take me by the hand today and will bring me to Jesus’ feet.