I did not grow up in church and my exposure to Bible stories were limited. When I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior in my late twenties I felt like a toddler. Everything was new and I was excited to learn!

Not only was I learning how to walk with God but also how to read and comprehend His Word. Everyone seemed to know so much; at least that is what I thought.

 I often heard people tout the length of time they had been walking with the Lord. At that time, I thought length equated to more knowledge. I was wrong. However, I found myself tempted to approach God’s Word out of duty---to gain more knowledge about God so that I was not “behind.” During that season, my relationship with God was more about knowing rather than enjoying and delighting in the One who saved me.

During those early years I was privy to a piece of conversation between my father- in- law (my former Pastor) and my husband. My father-in-law said, “Son, what is your rush? You plan on not being saved tomorrow?”

Although that conversation was not meant directly for me. Due to my state of mind at that time, I believe God wanted me to be privy to that portion of the conversation.

God was revealing to me through that information, the key to growing as a Christian is not to gain more and more knowledge and one day “arrive,” having learned all there is to know.  The key is to always remain a student of Jesus regardless of the length of time you have been saved.

During a revival over twenty years ago, an Evangelist was praying, and her prayer included, “Lord, keep me teachable.” She was triple my age and yet eager to continue to learn from the Lord.

She had no idea, but at that moment she was teaching me to cherish learning about the Lord for the rest of my life.

As I listened and observed her, I realized she loved the Lord immensely and she never want to “arrive,” as if she could not learn more about Him. Her desire for knowledge was commendable, but it was not just so she could answer biblical trivia questions, although she was great at it. She longed to be in relationship with the Lord. She longed for the humility it would take to be a lifelong learner.

I now cringe at the thought of believing length of time being saved equates to having “arrived” at learning about God. It is absurd to think anyone can get to the end of learning about God. The depths of God’s Word and His character are inexhaustible.

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Romans 11:33).

I admonish you not to desire knowing the Lord only to say you have knowledge, falsely thinking one day you might “arrive.” Instead remain teachable so that you will experience the glorious benefits of the Christian life.

1.    A relationship with God: We have peace with God through the work of Christ. The forgiveness of our sins means that we are now free to relate to God and to know God (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:7;John 14:20; Ephesians 2:17-18).

2.The Holy Spirit: When we become Christians, God gives us the Holy Spirit in order that we might know Him intimately. To lead and guide us, become aware of our sin and have the power to kill it ( John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 10:13;),

3.Forgiveness of sin and freedom from the power of sin: Sin often weighs us down causing us to feel separated from God.( 1 John 1:8). In Christ we have real forgiveness of sin (Ephesians 1:7). By Christ’s death we have also been freed from slavery to sin. Sin need not hold power over us (Romans 8:2).

4. Freedom from guilt. Christ died, not just to free us from sin, but also from the guilt and condemnation associated with that sin (Romans 8:1) .

5. Knowing the meaning and purpose of life and how to live your life:  As a Christian we know that the meaning and purpose of existence is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. (Psalm 145) Scripture gives commands from God himself about how we should live. The more we live according to scriptures the more we enjoy our lives, and the more Christ is reflected in our walk(Colossians 1:10; Romans 12:2; John 8:12) .

6. Hope in an end to suffering. As a Christian living with God, in the end there will be no more suffering or evil. Our hope in this promise causes us to look toward Jesus who will one day wipe away every tear from our eyes(Revelation 21:3-4; Romans 8:18) .

7. Eternal life. One of the inevitable things we all face is death. The promise of Jesus is that whoever believes in him will have eternal life (John 3:16; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).

Changing our perspective from merely gaining knowledge will transform our time with the Lord from duty to delight.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I long to know You through Your Word. As I read Your Word help me to enjoy my relationship with You. Father, change my perspective on how I view Your Word from duty to delight. Remove any thoughts or feelings of me having “arrived.” I pray for the spirit of humility as I read Your Word and an increase desire to experience the joys of learning and being taught. In Jesus ‘Name, Amen

PEARLStoPONDER: On those days when reading the Word is challenging, remember any time in the Word is well spent. Because every moment teaches you one more thing about our Lord and Savior, one more thing about how to walk this journey, and one more thing about how God loves you.