Study! Study! Study?!

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?