. We begin at the lowest grade
by J. R. Miller. Learn from me, for
I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. Matthew 11, 29. All of Christian
life is a school. Learn from me, said the Master,
We are only beginners when we first become Christians and enter
Christ's school. We begin at the lowest grade. We do not have to wait until
we know a great deal before we begin to attend school. School
is not for finished scholars, but for the most ignorant. We
may come to Christ when we know almost nothing. He is the teacher,
and all believers are learners. Learn from me, for I am gentle."
Gentleness is a lesson which we are to learn. It will probably
take us a good long while to learn this lesson, but we must
learn it, because it is in Christ's curriculum for all His students. Contentment is another lesson
which we must learn. When he was well along in life,
Paul said, I have learned the secret of being content in any
and every situation. It was a long and difficult lesson
for him to learn. Patience is a lesson that has
to be learned. An impatient person is not a
complete Christian. Thoughtfulness is a necessary
lesson. There are a great many thoughtless
Christians. They are always blundering in
their interactions with others. They say the wrong word. They
do the wrong thing. They are always hurting other
people's feelings, giving pain to gentle hearts. Yet it is all
from thoughtlessness. I didn't mean to offend him.
I didn't mean to be unkind. I just never thought. There are
a few lessons in Christian life that more people need to learn
than this of thoughtfulness. We have to learn to trust. Worry
is a sin. It is probably as great a sin
as dishonesty or profanity or bad temper. Yet a good many Christian
people worry, and one of the most important lessons in Christ's
school is to learn not to worry. Kindness is a lesson we must
learn. It takes many years to learn
the one little lesson of kindness. Joy is a lesson to be learned. Peace is another. Humility is
another necessary lesson. Praise is a great lesson. All of life is a school, and
it is in learning these lessons that Jesus says we shall find
rest for your souls. Christ himself is our Teacher,
and with Him we should never fail to learn, though it be only
slowly. then as we learn our lessons,
our lives will grow continually more and more into quietness,
peace, and Christ-likeness.