It would have been incredible to live on this planet at the same time as Jesus. I always wonder to myself if I would be like the people who just showed up to his teachings, the Pharisees who knew how serving God is supposed to look, or like one of Jesus’ close disciples. I hope I would have been like one of his disciples, who learned from Jesus and lived it out by his direction.

Jesus had a way of saying and doing things no one, not even his disciples, would have expected. One shocking statement Jesus made was “I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away” (John 16:7). Can you imagine the befuddled looks on the disciple's faces… “Good” that you go away?” This strange statement is more understandable when coupled with a previous statement by Jesus on why he would be leaving, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). In other words, being with Jesus is not all the disciples had to learn, there was more!

I have found this true in my own life, the more I know about God, I realize how little I know. This has been true in leading teams, working a job, and getting degrees to name a few. This is one of the things I love about being in core groups and other study groups where discussion is the primary focus. I learn so much from hearing other people’s ideas about how to do something, how to live for God, and other aspects of Scripture application. I want to encourage you to be a lifelong learner, which requires you to listen to people around you. I think the attitude to accomplish genuine listening is Paul’s statement to the Romans when he said, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10). Let's be a people who never revert to our perceived silos of excellence.

Let’s consider other people above ourselves and how can you do that in the coming weeks?