A Teachable Heart

Acts 17: 24-26 says, “Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.”

Observation: Apollos knew his stuff. He was obviously a smart man who loved God and knew His word well. He was a strong communicator. He was gifted. He did all these things in boldness. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him speaking they saw his gifts in speaking but knew they needed to correct him. They taught him more about who Jesus was. He received it and went on to do great things. Later on, Paul refers to him as a man who has furthered the gospel.

Application: I need to be teachable just as Apollos was. I think I know what I’m talking about, I have a good heart and love to tell others about what I have learned about God. But, when I get corrected or shown something that I didn’t understand I sometimes take it personal. Why should I feel this way? A part of being a Christian is realizing that we never have it figured all out and there is always something new to learn about the character of God. The Bible tells us that one day we will be complete, but that will not come until the day we see Jesus again. Until then, it is a process, a journey.

One thing that jazzes me up more than anything is when I encounter a person who wants to grow in their faith. They soak up everything they hear about God and His word. This is a teachable heart. I think Jesus loves a teachable heart more than just about anything else. When he recruited his disciples, he was looking for men with a teachable heart. If we have that heart, imagine what God can do with that!

Prayer: God, make me teachable. Let me learn something new about your character everyday! Put me in the path of someone who wants to teach me something new. Put me in the path of someone who I can teach something new.