Grace in the Mundane
Ordinary Life – Amazing God
Examples Can Be Good or Bad.
I believe one of the best ways to learn is by example. When I worked at Edward Jones, that was how we trained on the phones. When training, someone sat with you for a day or two, they listened in on your calls with you. They watched where you found the answers, they learned how to work the phone system, and they learned good customer service skills. Then they would take calls, while you looked up the answers for them. The next step was, they took all the calls while you listened, just in case they needed help. Once they were confident, and you were confident in their skills, they were ready to go solo.
So, you always wanted your best people training. You wanted your trainee to pick up the right skills, and the right habits. You didn’t want someone who slacked or cut corners. You wanted someone leading by example who did their best. Someone who gave the best possible service.
We can learn by good example, or sometimes we can learn by bad example. In Hebrews three, we learn from bad example, what not to do, verse 7 says, “Today, when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness. They tested and tried my patience, even though they saw my miracles for forty years.”
It goes on to say, that God said, “I was angry with them, and in my anger I made a vow: They will never enter my place of rest.” God didn’t allow them to enter the promise land because of their rebellion, because they tested his patience. He provided and they still complained. For forty years He lead them, He feed them, He protected them, He parted the sea for them yet they wanted to turn from him.
The writer goes on to say, be careful, make sure your hearts are not following their bad example. Make sure you are not evil and unbelieving, don’t turn away from God, warn each other. Don’t be deceived by sin and hardened against God. If we are faithful, and trusting God we will share in that promised land. that place of rest.
Then it says one more time, “Today you must listen to his voice, don’t harden your hearts against him, as Israel did when they rebelled.” Twice in one chapter the author gives us the same warning. Don’t harden your hearts, as the Israelite’s did.
What does it mean to harden my heart? It means to choose my own way, it means to disregard what God says, it means to rebel against God. We have an example of what that meant for the Israelite’s, and it didn’t turn out good.
God, today let me learn by example, let my heart be tender and open and responsive to you.
Grace in the Mundane 