Every single one of us has gone through some type
of education in our life time. Some have decided to go further than others.
Some have decided to learn for themselves. Everyone has an interest to learn
something. When a person is interested in a topic, they are more compelled to
learn about it. If the topic really takes a hold of their interest, they are
even more overwhelmed with the sense of urgency to learn more about it.
For example. If you liked medicine and are
interested in becoming a doctor you would look for options to obtain that goal.
You would find out that there are certain steps to becoming a doctor. Steps
that include lots of hours of studying, school, meeting of the minds on certain
days of the week, and learning. You sign yourself up for classes and away you
go!
We as Christians are automatically drawn in by
the love of Christ. Just like the study of medicine, God is a topic that one
can spend more than lifetime learning about. That is why as Christians we
are told we need to study. Every week most of us attend a church service, some
type of school like study group, and come home to struggle with completing our
daily studies. Just like with the school setting, and we know that studying is
important as a Christian. But why? And if it is so important why is it that the
Bible can be so uninteresting and monotonous at times? Most Christians will
admit that they struggle with personal one on one time studying their Bibles
and talking with God. How come? Isn't there this thirst that only God can
quench? If so, then how come I am so thirst less?
In both the school and Christian setting studying
is a key component. However, there is another element that makes studying worth
your time. Without it studying is nothing more than time wasted.
Read this passage from Matthew 28:19(NIV). I am
sure most Christians can quote it.
Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Great passage! One of my favorites to study on and ponder about.
Now, read this passage without stopping for five minutes straight.
Without stopping. Now read it for another ten minutes straight. In fact, why
not read it every day for the rest of your life. It’s a great
passage right? Shouldn’t get boring. Should it?
Well, I promise you if you read that scripture over and over again
it will get boring despite the fact of how great of a scripture it is.
There is another key step to studying.
We are called as Christians to act on what we study. Studying is
just the first step.
We must act on what we learn
Matthew 16:24 Jesus says,
“… "If any of you wants to be my follower,
you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.”
We can’t spend our whole lives in school. We must
graduate. We must put our knowledge to action. We are called to follow in Christ’s
footsteps. To take up our cross and follow him. We desire to be like him. When
we desire to be like him we want to learn more about him. So we study. We spend
time with him. But we can’t stop there. We must act. When is the last time you
read about “baptizing all nations”? Is it more often then you have done it?
As Christians we should be constantly everyday striving to be more
like Christ. We should always want to study and learn more about him. However,
if you aren’t going to put what you learn into practice,then it is just as a doctor
who never saves a life because he spends his whole life in the classroom
reading about it and never practicing what he learns.
Ephesians 6: 10, 11 say,
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his
mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take
your stand against the devil’s schemes.
We are called to more than just studying. We are called to be
soldiers for Christ. We are called to put into practice the things we study in
our manual. The Bible. We are called to be active in the fight. Not just
spectators. We are called to make a difference. To let our light shine.
When is the last time you let your light shine? When is the last
time you directly changed a life? Feed the homeless, clothed the naked, and
warmed the cold? When was the last time you did this and that person knew
beyond a shadow of a doubt that you did it in Jesus’ name?
You are called for more than to attend a church
service, study and learn. As a church we are called for more than once or twice a
week to come together and learn. As Christians we are called to come together
to overcome and take on evil in the name of Christ. Together. Involved. To save lives. That is what we are studying for. Studying without works is boring.
Being a Jesus follower is not! Are you bored?
