Go and Learn

11.21.2009

Matthew 9:13 13 “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” New American Standard Bible

Jesus came proclaiming the Kingdom of God – a Kingdom that is very unlike the kings and kingdoms of men. God’s Kingdom is a Kingdom of truth and righteousness beautifully wrapped up in selfless love. Men have not because they can not. So, to the religious of His day Jesus said, “Go and learn what this means…” In other words, stop looking at what you look at from an earthly perspective and think about it from a heavenly perspective – then go and practice it! Jesus came to change minds and hearts and the way we do that is to go and learn…

Men have not because they will not – but it really doesn’t mean they can not. They can not because they will not. When the Lord tells us to go and learn what this means, He means what He says – go and learn; take the time, put some effort into learning about the Kingdom of God so that you can understand what He is up to in the world. That requires submission to the command and then commitment to diligence to do as instructed.

My life’s desire and mission is to not make sense of this world but to go and learn. I want to learn more and more about God and to submit more and more to His wisdom and authority. And love. Each day as I read and study His word and think about what He has said, I go and learn – at least that is my intention. Sometimes my learning is stunted because I try to force Him into my mold – but He is always patient and kind, and teaches those who go and learn…

Father in Heaven,

Thank You for the command to go and learn and then to live out the lessons You teach. To learn is not to cram more facts into my puny brain, but to apply the wisdom and truth You give, from my heart. Help me this day to learn, love, and live, according to the perspective of Heaven, I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.