Hard Teaching

Scripture – John 6:60-65: On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.”

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture) What do we do with “hard teaching?” I think of that in two ways. First, it may be hard because I have to really think about it. I may need to do some research, read and/or talk with someone else. That takes time and attention, and it’s hard to make myself do that. It’s much easier to watch a video or glance at a web page, and let someone else do my thinking for me. It’s easiest of all just to forget about it and move on to things I already understand. Second, a teaching in the Bible may be hard because, as in this passage, “Who can accept it?” There are truths I would rather avoid because they’re hard to accept – they call for a change I’m not ready to make. (Loving my neighbor, for example.) What will I do with the hard teachings I encounter today?

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read) I will make note of them today; including what it is that makes them hard. I will lean into them rather than away from them.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer) Give me discipline and/or courage, Lord, to embrace the lessons from your word as I encounter them today. I have a couple already from Ezekiel 33 and 34. Please continue to teach me and grow within me.