Who are you learning from? Are you learning anything at all? Have you come to believe you already know all you need to know? Do you think you are too old to learn? Why should you continue to learn? Will you choose to learn from God?
Learning should be a life-long activity. There is not a single person alive who knows it all. Those we may consider to be the smartest people are people who continue to learn. They have discovered the more they learn the more they realize how much they do not know.
It is especially important that we continue to learn about God and from God. It may seem odd to state we should learn from God. However, we learn from him by reading and studying his Word. We also learn through the Holy Spirit who reveals the meaning of God’s Word to us. What needs to happen for us to learn? We must be willing to learn, rather than think we already know it.
Having an open mind, searching to know more, seeking a deeper understanding is key to learning. We can get a deeper understanding by using scholarly books such as commentaries written by those who have studied the original languages and can provide insight into the meaning of the words used. Translations are good for a basic level of understanding but can hinder a deeper understanding.
One example of this is our English word love. We use that word in a number of situations to mean different types of love. Yet, when Jesus speaks to Peter about love and feeding His sheep in John 21:15-19, Jesus is using one word for love and Peter another. Peter is speaking of a friendship love while Jesus is speaking of unconditional love. Peter speaks of generally caring for others. Jesus is speaking of sacrificing for others.
There are many more examples of a deeper meaning being expressed in God’s Word within the original language. We do not need to know the original language. We can gain a deeper understanding by reading commentaries or using a concordance and dictionaries. Bottom line, continue to learn from God’s Word and God.
I pray we all seek to continue to learn. I pray we strive to gain a deeper understanding of God’s Word. I pray each one of us open our minds and listen for the Holy Spirit to reveal the meaning of God’s Word. Open your mind. Listen for the Holy Spirit. Seek a deeper understanding. Continue to learn.
Psalm 25:4-5
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
Marty Pressey 