Titus I
For we ourselves were once foolish, (Titus 3:2 ESV)
Remember
I had a celebrity for a guitar teacher in my youth. At least a celebrity for me. He played the guitar on a radio show, The Children’s Bible Hour.
He was a rare breed, as a music teacher. He never rolled his eyes at my mistakes. He never guilted me into practice. He did not criticize my repeated ignorance or backsliding of knowledge. He was patient while still being exact. He was understanding while still asking dedication. He smiled a lot, I thought, for what looked like a grumpy old man.
When I eventually stopped taking lessons from him, I asked him why he acted so different than my other teachers.
He replied that he remembered what it was like to learn.
We Christians need to remember that teacher’s outlook.
Maybe you are not a teacher, a preacher, or a spiritual guide. But you still teach, present the gospel, and point people to Christ every day… whether you are aware of it or not.
And our gospel-ing is better when we remember our own sin, both past and present.
Our gospel-ing is better when we remember our own struggles, both past and present.
Our gospel-ing is better when we remember all the ways WE needed Jesus… as well as the ways we still do.
Call it remembering. I call it remembering Paul Storm.