trusted online casino malaysia
Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
ReVision

Ever Learning

We can't learn Jesus until we learn learning.

True Learning (1)

For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3.6, 7

Show me Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day. Psalm 25.4, 5

Learning, but not
We need to say an additional word or two about the calling of those who follow Jesus to be learners. We cannot follow Jesus if we aren’t willing to devote ourselves to the lifelong pursuit of Him as learners. But we’re not likely to benefit from our learning efforts if we’re not clear about what learning actually involves.

American Christians today are the most Christian-educated generation in the history of the Church. We have more opportunities for studying the Bible and related Christian materials than all the generations of Christians that have preceded us rolled together: more courses, seminars, schools, study materials, media, and assorted other modes of instruction than the Church has ever known.

So why is the American Church languishing on the margins of society, with very little input to shape the key issues and challenges of our day? Why is there so little evidence of the Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit, dispersed and growing throughout our society? Why are Christians so reluctant to talk about their faith? Why are our churches not growing?

The answer to all these questions is that, while we are ever about the task of learning something about the Bible and the Christian faith, we don’t seem to be able to get to the real knowledge of the truth – the truth that is in Christ Jesus.

The truth that is in Christ Jesus sets us free from burdens and sinful passions, because the truth is in God’s Word, which is a living power that penetrates to the depths of our souls and, in the hands of God’s Spirit, transforms us increasingly into the image of Jesus Christ (Jn. 8.32; Heb. 4.12; 2 Cor. 3.12-18). We are truly learning when we are learning Jesus, as the Word of God, in the hands of God’s Spirit, transforms us inside-out and outside-in into the very image of the Lord.

This, as is quite evident, is happening precious little among American Christians.

The right focus
True learning begins with having the right focus, the right horizon toward which we are travelling. In the Church today so much of our Christian education is focused on us and what we want or hope God will do for us. It’s also focused primarily on imparting content, as though communicating doctrine, principles, and formulas for helping ourselves to the good things of the Lord were a proper end in itself.

But according to the Apostle Paul, and to David, writing in Psalm 25, true learning must have a different focus, a different overall objective, if we are ever to get beyond mere learning and arrive at the truth that is in Jesus Christ.

Intimate, personal, transforming
David insists that true learning must be focused in God – knowing Him, resting in Him and His promises, walking in His ways, and discovering in Him the proper orientation and direction for our lives. He explains that if we hope to learn anything at all, we must take as our focus to understand and walk in the ways and paths of the Lord, to become fully immersed in His salvation, on His terms, (vv. 4, 8-10).

Learning, in other words, is more than merely understanding content, or satisfying our personal interests or needs. Our learning will have arrived at the knowledge of the truth when we have come to know the ways and paths of the Lord (v. 4), and to follow in them faithfully (vv. 5, 9). Then we will dwell consciously within the steadfast love and faithfulness of the Lord, owning His promises and keeping His Law (v. 10).

Such true learning is intimate, deeply personal, and powerfully transforming in every area of our lives. Through such learning we put off our old selves and are clothed in the beautiful garments of righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. We decrease, but He increases, and the hope of glory in which we stand becomes more visible and palpable in us day by day (Jn. 3.30; Rom. 5.1, 2; 1 Pet. 3.15).

We will know that we have begun to arrive at the knowledge of the truth when the truth that is in Jesus sets us free from our sinful ways, liberating us to live in the full light and glory of the Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit. In such a setting we will be able to determine the Lord’s true calling for our lives, so that we live for Him, worship Him, serve Him, and manifest His glory in all we are, think, say, and do.

If the Church in America were experiencing this kind of learning, the Church – and perhaps America as well – would be an altogether different place.

For reflection
1.  What are some of the important keys for getting beyond mere learning to learning the truth that is in Jesus?

2.  Do you agree that little of this kind of learning is in evidence in our day? Why or why not?

3.  In what ways would you like to see yourself decreasing and Jesus increasing more?

Next steps – Preparation: Share this article with a Christian friend. Ask your friend to read all seven installments of this series. Make an appointment to get together at the end of this series and discuss how you might help one another press on toward true learning.

T. M. Moore

This week’s study, Learning Jesus, is Part 4 of a 5-part series on Following Jesus.Each week’s study is available in a free PDF which you can download by clicking here.

Christians learn best when their learning is framed within a Christian worldview. Our free online course, One in Twelve: Introduction to Christian Worldview, is available any time, and at no charge. Click here to learn more about this helpful and challenging introduction to Christian worldview, presented in 12 diagrams by T. M. Moore.

Take up the challenge of your Personal Mission Field – and do so with a friend. Watch the video on our
Mission Partners Outreach for more information about how you can begin to follow Jesus in your Personal Mission Field (click here).

The Lord uses your prayers and gifts to help us in this ministry. Add us to your regular prayer list, and seek the Lord concerning whether He would have you share with us. You can contribute to The Fellowship of Ailbe by using the contribute button at the website, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

Subscribe to Ailbe Newsletters

Sign up to receive our email newsletters and read columns about revival, renewal, and awakening built upon prayer, sharing, and mutual edification.