This teaching is an excerpt from our Radio Antioch Podcast Episode 5.
Years ago, I had the honor of serving as a leader in a youth ministry, Royal Rangers, a Christian scouting program. Modeled after the Boy Scouts of America, Royal Rangers develops character and leadership in young men, while adding Christian discipleship. In short, it is a fantastic program to develop Godly young men. It was amazing how much more open to the things of God these kids were when they got away from the television, telephone and video games for a weekend. I was part of a particularly excellent outpost, that would even take the older boys on backpack or canoe adventures in wilderness areas in Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
I served there during my late twenties, and it was during this time that I began to write bible studies and teach. I had a mentor who spoke into my life as I was training to be part of the program, who taught me about the “Teachable Moment”.
The concept of the teachable moment is simple. When mentoring someone in Christ, be sensitive for a time when the Holy Spirit will orchestrate a moment where the student is receptive to instruction. In this moment, a few words will stay with them for a lifetime, whereas a thousand words at the wrong time seem to run off like water. Usually this happens when the student comes to a challenging point, and realizes they don’t have all the answers. At this point, the mentor can gently and in love do some honest character building and instruction.
My friend gave me this example of a teachable moment: He had taken a group of younger boys out on their first overnight backpack trip in Texas, west of Fort Worth. These kids were a little “green” in camping jargon, and needed a little extra supervision. The boys were told not to wander away alone from the camp, and to stay on the trails. After a while, they noticed that one boy was missing. They looked for him on the trails near the camp, even calling for him. Soon my friend came upon the lad, off, trail, “frozen” like a statue in terror right in front of a big ‘ol Texas diamondback rattlesnake. These are really intimidating when coiled up to strike, rattling menacingly, particularly when the only way out is by backcountry trail! After waiting a while longer, the snake began to edge away, and the boy was coaxed to slowly back away as well.
Now the leader spoke: “Son, remember how I told you not to get off of the trail? Satan watches for people who get into disobedience and let their feet take them to places that they should not be. When they are alone, he comes to them to wreak havoc, to kill, steal and destroy.”
These gentle words, spoken at that teachable moment, will forever be with that young man. He had gone his own way, but suddenly came face to face with his folly. But the mercy of God was with him that day, and he learned an unforgettable lesson.
In our last post we were studying the life of Jacob: He had cheated, lied and rebelled against the promise of God on his life, even leaving the land that God promised him. But after twenty years of being himself deceived and cheated by his uncle Laban, Jacob came to realize that the only reason that he had anything at all was because of God’s hand upon his life. Things were going poorly with the sons of Laban, as well as Laban himself, and his life had grown toilsome. It was at this point that Jacob reached the end of his rope, the end of his own crafty nature, and came to his teachable moment.
Genesis 31:1-3
Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.” [2] And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been. [3] Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”
Now, after leaving the promised land twenty years before, God speaks to Jacob to return, back to his inheritance, but also to face his past, which would also have to be dealt with. But God’s promise remains the same: “I will be with you”
At this teachable moment, Jacob now listens to the Lord, and returns to the promised land to enter into his destiny.
Perhaps you have had a few teachable moments in your life. (I’d love to hear about them, send me a few comments!) Perhaps you are there now with the uncertain and trying times that we have today. I want to encourage you: When you have come face to face with your own weakness, listen to the Lord when you hear that still, small voice in your spirit. The Lord will guide you like a loving father and teach you to overcome and to prosper, and to grow into the person He is leading you to become.
Next- Wrestling with God
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