Article July 25, 1925 Issue

"Taught of God"

MARIE SPEARS

In John we read: "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." Every teacher knows that the first requisite for good teaching is an understanding of, and a love for, the subject taught. But he also recognizes that however much understanding he may have, it cannot be imparted to an unreceptive thought. The student must want what the teacher has to give; he must reach out for it and strive to make it his. In other words, the student must be teachable, recognizing his need for further enlightenment and opening his consciousness to receive it when it appears, if he is to receive of the good provided.

This appearing may not be in the way he has looked for and probably outlined; but, nevertheless, if he is reaching out, he will receive and learn and progress. John tells us we must hear before we learn; and surely we must yearn to hear, before the message reaches us fully.

In Ezekiel we read of a rebellious people who "have ears to hear, and hear not." Mrs. Eddy gives us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 585) the spiritual definition of "ears" as, "Not organs of the so-called corporeal senses, but spiritual understanding." Thus we find that this rebellious people were not listening with yearning to hear the voice of God and understand His message spiritually—and so they heard not!

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