“Come to Me . . let Me teach you.” Matthew 11:28 NLT
“Truth is a Person, not an idea; Jesus is Truth!”
My thoughts today are about “a life-long learner.”
In England when a car has a student driver, it is required to prominently display a large, red L that designates the driver as a learner. Maybe that’s a kind way to alert anyone else on the road to be well advised and take extra precaution. At least, it is an acknowledgement that the driver still has a lot to learn about driving safely and thoughtfully.
I think I want to live in a way that identifies me as a life-long learner, especially when it comes to knowing truth and applying it to everyday life. I want to always be a seeker, an enthusiastic, life-long student of truth.
Make it your ambition to never stop learning, to never assume that you know enough about anything but diligent in practicing what you learn. Be hungry for truth, not just information, understanding not just knowledge, and wisdom not just understanding. In your quest for knowledge, don’t make the mistake of those the Bible describes as “always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:7 NIV.
Don’t be too impressed with how much you or any one else knows, if that fails to line up with real truth, eternal truth, God’s truth! Truth will always be practical, able to be applied to your everyday life.
Be a student of real life, not just theoretical ideas. Always seeking. Always observing. Always asking. Always listening. Always learning. There will never be a time when you know everything that can be known about anything, let alone about everything. You may know a lot, but there is always someone who can teach you a little more. And you can always learn more, if you will. The more truth that you learn and the more you walk in that truth, the better your life will be.
The aging Apostle John expressed the heart of God for Christ-followers when he wrote, “I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children live in the truth.” 3 John 1:4 NLT. In his younger years, I wonder if his stated expectations might have been more complex for himself and others. Years of growing closer to God’s heart and recognizing the headwaters out of which spiritual life flows changed his perspective and priorities.
Truth has a wonderful transforming power, if you will consistently “live in the truth.” Truth is not what you tell others; truth is what you translate to others by your life, in ways they can understand.
Let me be clear about where the heart of a true learner is always drawn. Remember this; truth is not an idea or collection of information and facts. Truth is a Person; Jesus is Truth! Jesus said, “Come to Me . . learn of Me . . and you will find rest for your soul.” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV. Jesus is the Source and Supply of truth. You will never find the truth you seek, nor learn what you must know, until you put your heart in His hands and trust it there.
My prayer for you today is to learn what is truly worth knowing.