Best way to learn the Bible

 

 

Developing a passion for learning means learning and growing in whatever environment you find yourself.  It means making your growth dependent on you and not others.  How do you develop a passion for learning?  There are three essential mindsets.
NEVER BE SATISFIED WITH WHAT YOU KNOW NOW.  Be careful of the "I already know this" attitude.  In your spiritual life, are you growing as a Christian or are you making that someone else's responsibility?  In your relationships with spouse, children, and with people in general, never be satisfied with what you know about them.  This is also true of your ministry as an evangelist (Eph. 4:11-16).  In every area of life, this mindset requires self-motivation and self-evaluation (Jas. 1:22-25).

RECOGNIZE THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS; LEARNING AND GROWING TAKE WORK.  People are looking for the easy way.  They want the fad diets, but the formula is still eat less and exercise more (work).  They want the get rich quick schemes, but the method is still spend less and save more (work).  The only shortcut is working hard!  Obstacles are important.  They show how determined we are to succeed.  They show how important the goal really is.  Consider Olympic record-setter Michael Phelps' workout routine.  He trains six hours a day, six days a week without fail.  Even if Christmas or Thanksgiving day falls on a training day, he does a full day of training.  He swims approximately 50 miles each week, which is over 8 miles per training day.  How determined are you?  It is not always going to come easy!!  2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Be diligent to present yourself approved of God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of God."

DO THE EXTRA WORK, EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO EXTRA CREDIT.  If you are only motivated by the reward or the recognition, life is going to be hard.  The extra work causes you to be stronger, deeper and more committed to God.  In Galatians 1:10, Paul says, "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God?  Or am I striving to please mean?  If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

Learn to grow!  These mindsets can help you develop a lifetime passion for learning.  Remember Peter's closing words of encouragement to his readers to "grow in grace and knowledge" (2 Pet. 3:18).

 

Mike Hite