Commitment to Knowledge

An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. (Proverbs 18:15)

The Christian faith is complex and a never-ending path to discovery. The way to enter the divine path is through learning. The Bible is a book requiring study, reflection, and continual evaluation. The more we learn about Scripture, prayer, devotion, and justice, the more we can interact with God profoundly. There is a reason Presbyterians were leaders in creating many institutions of higher learning. For Presbyterians, education has always been valued and recognized as a necessary part of the faith experience.

The article, “The Most Important Thing You’ll Ever Learn is You Have Much to Learn” by Scott Mayer, encourages “Keeping your thirst for knowledge from drying up.” One of the reasons churches are essential is because pastors and other religious academics provide proper Christian education in the classroom, in their sermons, and devotional writings. Uneducated clergy without formal religious education have tarnished the Christian Church through lousy theology. Study is required to keep a strong foundation of the Scriptures alive and God’s divine message moving forward.

Today, affirm how you continue to learn and grow in your faith. You are reading devotions and praying for enlightenment. Affirm your learning process by celebrating your commitment to regular worship attendance. Then, be sure to put together a plan to read your Bible with a method. First, get a good study Bible. I recommend the HarperCollins Study Bible with the New Revised Standard Version. Begin each book by reading the introduction. Then read a chapter per day. After you read the chapter, read the notes at the bottom of the page. The book outline and notes will guide your interpretation. Finally, pray before you read. Wisdom is shared when we invite the Holy Spirit to the study session. Now, get to work!