"A Patient Teacher"

“A Patient Teacher”

One of my retirement activities is serving as a spiritual care volunteer with a local hospice agency. In this role I’ve seen a number of patients, including one whom I’ve called on monthly for the past year. He’s a fellow believer so we usually discuss how the Bible speaks to our needs and how God is working in both our lives. He always welcomes my visits and after prayer asks me to come again soon.

When I arrived at his home recently he was seated in the living room watching a game show. As we began talking I requested that he turn the sound down which he willingly did (he apologized for forgetting to do so). He had a question about a Scripture passage he’d read and as I was sharing my insights his eyes wandered to the TV, but once he realized what he was doing he turned it off and said, “I don’t want to get distracted.”

We then talked about how this was like sin in our lives. It’s attractive and commands our attention (as do many TV shows) and we think we can escape its impact by partially avoiding it. But then we realize that it’s still affecting us and we need to turn away completely lest it keep us from hearing what God wants to tell us.

Studies have shown that the eyes and mind can focus on only one thing at a time. Jesus likely had this in mind when He said, “No one can serve two masters.” (Matthew 6:24). Scripture gives many examples of how sin distracts from God’s commands including Eve by the fruit in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:6), Achan by the spoils of war (Joshua 7:21), and Solomon by wealth (Ecclesiastes 6:2). But it also provides a remedy: “…Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…Let us fix our eyes on Jesus….” (Hebrews 12:1-2). A line in an old hymn says, “Since my eyes were fixed on Jesus, I’ve lost sight of all beside.” That’s God’s way of not being taken in by the world’s sin and distractions.

I’ve had a lot of patient teachers and other influencers over the years (especially Karen), but not many teachers who were patients. Thanks, my friend, for helping me see God’s truth in a practical way.

Blessings!

Jim McMillan