Jesus said: It is written in the prophets, "And they shall all be taught by God". Therefore, everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.John chapter 6 verse 45
Lead me in your truth and teach me for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.Psalm 25 verse 5
Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will He instruct in the way that he should choose. Psalm 25 verse 12
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalm 32 verse 8
Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Psalm 51 verse 6
Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. Psalm 86 verse 11
Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law. Psalm 94 verse 12
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143 verse 10
All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children's peace. Isaiah chapter 54 verse 13
Jesus said: Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew chapter 11 verse 29
O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. Psalm 71 verse 17
I Will Not Be Defined
I used to be involved with a church that had a special sharing time on New Year's Eve to let people celebrate what God had done for them during the year past, and look forward to what awaited them in the year ahead. I decided that I'd do something a little different one year. I'd write a poem. The theme was easy for me to decide upon, as in my experience, even in the church, people have a tendency to put you in a box with a label that has you categorised and compartmentalised. Sometimes we even try to put God in a box - which is not a very sensible thing to do!
The apostle Paul wrote: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free, so do not allow yourself be enslaved again ..." (Galatians chapter 5 verse 1 - my paraphrase). Jesus came to the earth, went to the cross, and then rose from the dead to make a way for us all to get OUT of the boxes that we ourselves and other people had tried to force us into.
I think it takes greatness to fully appreciate another human being for who they are, irrespective of how they relate to you. Precious few people endeavour to cultivate that ability. Jesus led the way and taught us how to do it. Which of us is humble enough, and loving enough, and noble enough, to follow his lead?
I Will Not Be Defined
The world tries to define meand put me in a box
as if I were a Christmas gift
of underwear or socks.
They grade me and they label me
by class and creed and kind.
I stand apart from all of this.
I will not be defined.
The wind blows as it pleases -
you feel the rushing swell -
but whence it comes or where it turns
there is no way to tell.
It rises and it falls away,
not only once or twice;
and so it is with every soul
who's born again in Christ.
My spirit won't be harnassed
though my body you destroy.
Nor scheme of man nor circumstance
can quell its inner joy,
for sheltered underneath the wing
of Father God I stand
and cry in chorus with the saints,
"I am a heavenly man!"
I'm counted with God's children,
but yet to be disclosed
is what I'll be in ages hence.
That secret no-one knows
except the One who right from the
beginning had in mind
a destiny unique to me.
I will not be defined.
30/12/2004
Copyright © 2004, Matthew Hilton