Learning and Leaning
“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.”- Proverbs 1:5
Currently, my youngest son is performing behind the wheel driving lessons to be able to advance to taking the driving test to earn the always exciting (and nerve racking) first driver’s license. He is quite determined and focused on completing this task. He is asking to go driving regularly, scheduling lessons with the instructor, and carving out time from his teenage life of friends, work, and video games…talk about commitment!
Even with school out, the summer months can be a wonderful opportunity of learning. Many kids learn to swim during this season. Like my son’s driving lessons, I wonder what areas for us need to move into a learning and growing mode? There are places that God wants us to grow in and get to. In our church community life one of the reasons the summer months are so special is because we choose a book from the Bible to focus on, learn from, and grow in (this year is Galatians). There are lessons from His eternal truths/promises that we need to apply today and will help us to advance beyond today. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
As followers of Jesus, we are called to a life of growth and fruitfulness. And as we look at and learn from His life, we realize the necessity of depending on Christ as the source and strength of our very lives. In John 15:5 Jesus tells us, “I am the Vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Let’s take aim and be driven to grow. Let’s choose to mature and move forward in life. Perhaps there are spiritual disciplines you need to practice regularly (reading the Bible; prayer; going to church); relational skills you need to develop (better communication/listening; conflict resolution; trusting others; more compassion); healthier thought processes to establish (overcome fears; remove insecurities/condemnation; adopt peace; dwell on truth and goodness); and good deeds to establish (giving; serving; helping; generosity).
We need to always be LEANING on and LEARNING from Jesus (Matthew 11:28-29). And when we do, we will pass the faith test and advance in every stage and season of life!