Recently Bryson, my grandson, began taking roping lessons. This is quite funny to me because this is the same kid who loves electronics. His Mom wanted him to be more active and away from electronics so she began having him and Brailee take riding lessons and then Bryson began taking roping lessons as well.
I wasn’t sure how it was going to go since this didn’t seem to be his forte. However, from the first lesson, the instructor was quite impressed with Bryson. Bryson picked up on it quickly and loved it from the beginning, but that is not the reason he was impressive to the teacher. The reason was that Bryson diligently listened to everything the teacher said and followed the instructions completely.
The teacher shared with Breanne how many adults have trouble learning because they have made up their mind that they know how to do it and fail to listen to the slightest instructions.
This past Tuesday Bryson had a roping lesson and Brandon wanted to go with him and take a lesson as well. Bryson was roping the fake cow and doing great, you could hear his teacher in the video Breanne sent me say ‘atta boy!’ every few minutes. While at the same time, I was on the phone with Breanne when she burst out laughing. I said ‘what’s going on?’ She said ‘Brandon just roped his own head!’
She then repeated to me what the teacher had said previously, that adults have a more difficult time following instructions, but kids pick it up quickly because they follow the instructions. God began to talk to me. But before I go into that, I have to share one more thing.
Breanne had Bryson show me his roping skills last night. The first thing I noticed was the look that came over his little face. This look came over his face as he began to circle the rope getting ready to aim at his target. It was a look of pure focus, everything else was blocked out except for what he had been taught and he was totally locked on his target and the instructions he had been given. Unfortunately what his mom had told him to rope was his Nana, and rope me he did.
As I stated earlier, God began to speak to me about the difference in the heart of a child and the heart of an adult. At least how it is with some adults at different times. He spoke the scripture to me from Luke 18:16-17, which says; ‘But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”’
Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. Oh my! You see, part of receiving the kingdom of God like a little child is learning to receive teaching and instruction, and most often, changing your way of thinking. How many times in my life as God caused me to change my thought life? I can’t even count the number. I was an adult when I became born again, I had been taught for 20 plus years, what I had been taught was the ways of the world, I had to completely change my way of thinking, my way of being and my way of doing things.
I had to be open to the correction that came to me through preaching, through the reading of the word of God and through God correcting me Himself. If I had not been open to changing my way of thinking…I would not be where I am today.
Children have wonderful qualities. For one, they are open and ready to learn. I watch this with Bryson and Breanne when she helps him with his homework, especially his spelling words. Bryson thought he had a hard time remembering however, as I watch Breanne gives him ‘tricks’ or ‘hints’ on different ways to remember, it is like a light comes on for him and he is able to excel in spelling.
Over the last few years, I have been amazed at the things I teach the grandkids one time and they remember it and apply it to their lives, especially spiritual things.
If we want to live in the kingdom of God, on this earth, we are going to have to receive that kingdom as children, and part of that is being teachable, having a teachable spirit.
Proverbs 12:1 says; Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. The Amplified version says it like this; ‘Whoever loves instruction and correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is like a brute beast, stupid and indiscriminating.’
The Bible says God corrects those He loves. I don’t know about you, but I choose to be one He loves and I am open to any and all correction He wants to give me. I choose to live in the kingdom of God on this earth, how about you?
