“My weekly Bible study class is almost done for the year,” Stan mentioned one morning, “and I’m looking for some people to invite for next year’s class.”
“I’m already involved,” I replied, “but I will keep my eyes open for any prospects.”
“Thanks,” Stan said. “Last night,” he continued, “I was talking with a neighbor and invited him to join the class.”
“Is he going to do that?”
“I don’t think so,” Stan replied, “and he had an interesting excuse.”
“In what way?”
“First, he asked me what we were going to study. I told him it was going to be the Book of John.”
“One of my favorites,” I said.
“Me too,” Stan replied. “I’ve studied it several times and I enjoy reading it again every time I get there in my morning journaling. My neighbor didn’t have the same view. And that’s the part that was interesting to me about what he said.”
Continuing, he added, “My neighbor said that he had studied John’s gospel a few years ago and didn’t think there was anything more for him to study.”
“He said that?” I asked. “Forgive me, but that seems like a pretty shallow approach to God’s word.”
“I forgive you,” Stan said with a smile. “I agree with your assessment and think it would be like if I invited you to have breakfast with me and you declined saying you had breakfast once and you think you don’t need to eat any more breakfast!”
“Yeah,” I replied. “There’s no ‘been there, done that’ with Bible study. Every time I read a passage, even though I may have read it many times before, there’s always something new for me if, and I emphasize ‘if,’ I’m open to learning what God has for me to learn.”
“Exactly,” Stan said. “I think it would be pure foolishness for me to think I already know all I need to know about God and refuse to learn more about Him and what He has for me to be.”
“So,” I asked, “what do you do with people who aren’t interested in studying God’s word because they think they already know enough.”
“Pray that they will be open to pursuing the eternal life of knowing God the Father and Jesus the Son, a pursuit that is intended for as long as God keeps us here.”
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Bible verses to consider:
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35.
And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. John 17:3.
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. Proverbs 23:9.
I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. Romans 12:3.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you want me to know you. Please forgive all of the times I have refused to learn more about you because I thought I knew all I needed to know. I know I will never know you completely on this side of eternity, but I also know that you want me to pursue that knowledge for as long as I have a breath to take. Please, Father, open me to want to learn all you have for me to know about you. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Do you seriously pursue studying God’s word? If no, why? If you are involved in regular Bible study, do you find it rewarding? Why or why not? Have you ever felt that you know as much about God and His word as you “need” to know? If so, on what have you based that decision—and have you asked God about it?
Waiting for the Train 