Teaching

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
-James 3:1

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
-Hebrews 13:7

Lord God, by whose teaching alone all profit and knowledge and insight are gained, whose Son lived before us and taught us most clearly and whose Spirit abiding in us calls even your deepest, unsearchable truths to mind,

Hear my prayer and teach me soundly, for there is nothing in me to teach others. All the novelty and innovation man can feign, and yet there is nothing new under the sun you have made. There is no truth man can think that you haven’t first considered, indeed that you have not first designed. If we think of you, we think of your most holy and pure character. If we think of anything else whatever, we think only of your creation, which you in your eternal wisdom have made just so to please yourself.

Yet I have put you, my God and my most able teacher who stoops to whisper truths too splendid for mortal minds in human words that even I might understand, out of my own mind in teaching others. Should I not fear that I may lead others astray? Should I not tremble when teaching the young of age and impressionable of faith? Is it not better, in the day of judgment for those who maliciously err in teaching your beloved little ones, to have a mill-stone about their neck in the midst of the sea? And is my way of life any grounds for imitation of faith? My throat is hot with human confidences, and my head bloated with self-awe. Forgive me, my patient and forbearing teacher. I have forgotten that all of life is your lesson. If I have grown in knowledge, it is your gift. Let me share the word of your truth graciously. I ask it that the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, may be lauded the higher. I ask it through him, amen.

Doxology

“He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The light of His righteousness
And wonders of His love”
–Joy to the World, Isaac Watts