Transformation-education
Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 1:10-12
Concerning this salvation, the prophets … searched intently and with the greatest care …
1 Peter 1:10
For many years the United States has said children must attend school through age 16. Why? Simply because education is a means of transformation!
The same is true in our Christian life. We must keep learning if we are to keep growing. In some churches when people reach adulthood, they stop attending education classes. The result? Many people stall in their spiritual growth. But if we don’t learn new truths, we don’t grow—in fact, we lose the knowledge we had.
Personal growth typically demands that we learn enough to make us want to change. But we often make choices that don’t empower our understanding. According to the National Commission on Excellence, in the course of a year the average college graduate does not read one serious book. We are lulled to sleep by the TV and spoon-fed by commercials.
In many ways we have become a religiously illiterate society. But our culture will surely remain shallow and immature if we don’t strive to learn the things of God.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Like the prophets in today’s verses, we can search the Bible intently and with the greatest of care attempt to discern God’s will. To love to read, to long to grow, to live to learn—these are qualities that will radically transform our personality and character.
Enflame our minds, O Lord, so that we long to study your Word. May we investigate the truths of Scripture. May the words of Jesus be our way, our truth, and our life. Amen.
About the author — Dean Deppe
Dean Deppe has been a pastor in inner-city, suburban, and rural churches. Currently he teaches New Testament theology at Calvin Theological Seminary. His courses include one on the parables of Jesus. He and his wife have four grown children.
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