When I was in the third grade my mom took a college algebra class at the local community college. I remember one day she was doing homework and I was bored so I was bothering her (if you know me at all, you know not much has changed since third grade.) She, being the brilliant mother she was, gave me a few of her homework problems to work out on my own. She taught me how to do a few problems and then she set me loose. I worked through her entire assignment in about 11/2 hours (I told you she was brilliant, she got me to sit quietly for 90 minutes).
That was the pinnacle of my mathematic genius. I am fairly well convinced that I used all my mathematic thoughts up too early and don’t have any more because I can barely add and subtract nowadays.
When I was in high school I, like every other student in Texas, had to take algebra I, geometry, and algebra II. I struggled through every day of both algebra classes. Geometry I enjoyed. When I was a junior I was in algebra II. My teacher, Ms. Anderson, was a great teacher and worked very hard to see that we learned the material and also the more valuable life lessons.
I was a pretty good student in her class, because I knew I would have to work harder in her class than any others because my brain just didn’t understand her subject. I studied for hours on end, did all homework assignments and performed well on tests as well as took advantage of every extra credit opportunity offered.
Near the end of the last grading period Ms. Anderson was passing out progress reports so that we could see where we stood and make last minute strides for a better grade. When she handed me mine, I had a 112% as my grade! I was so pumped. How is that me, math idiot, gets that kind of grade in algebra II? I had done it though. On my progress report she had highlighted 4 assignments that I had not turned in. I had gotten distracted by extra-curricular activities one week and had not done the homework that week. It was fine though, I had an excellent grade.
Toward the end of class that day, Ms. Anderson told me that I really needed to turn those assignments in. I was sarcastic in my response, “What exactly is my motivation to do that? I already have a 112 in this class.” She then explained to me that yes, while I did have a more than perfect score in the class, I was still incomplete as a student. Because I had not completed all the tasks that she had set before me, I had failed as a student regardless of my grade. She told me that I had that grade, that would not change, it would be recorded on my GPA and would be good, but these four homework assignments were more about me learning to be a good student than earning a better grade.
Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offering and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.
1 Samuel 15:22
This is something God has been teaching me a lot about lately. Because of Christ’s death I am sanctified. I passed the class. In fact, he did not just give me a 70% in the class he gave me a 100% because my sins are as far from him as the east is from the west (Psalm 103: 10-14). But he wants so much more from me and for me than just me to be sanctified by the sacrafice of Jesus Christ.
He has not dealt with us in our sin, nor rewarded us in our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his lovingkindness toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our sins from us. Like a father pities his children, so Jehovah pities them that fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103:10-14
Beyond my 100% grade in the class God has given me all these gifts that I can use to learn more about his character, love and grace. He has given me so many opportunities to use these gifts to build the kingdom throughout my life, but I have especially seen that happen this year. So now we are up to 112% and I am doing pretty good in class.
Now the Father is telling me, I need to learn about discipline. You need to learn about how to not let your body and mind dictate your actions, but my allow my spirit only to move you.
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9: 24-27
Why God? I am good, I am sanctified, you told me yourself that you see me as pure and holy. Why do I have to go through this?
“This is not about you making the grade. You are already in. Anything from this point will not change your GPA better or worse. You are set. You don’t have to do this, but doing it is simply a matter of you learning to be a good child, an obedient child. Completing all the tasks set before you by me, your teacher, not for a grade, but so you can learn more about what I want you to know about me. I love you and want you to be a good child.”
So I am learning about a lot of different disciplines including fasting, prayer and daily reading. It has been really good to sit at my father’s feet and to feel our relationship changing, growing, deepening in intimacy. What are the 4 homework assignments that God is asking you to turn in, not because it will effect your grade positively but because he wants you to be a good student regardless of your grade?
