Be A Student

Be A Student

 

Our viewpoint of learning and personal growth are simply, educating and expanding engaging in a lifelong process with Jesus Christ as the fundamental focal point. He is the goal and subject of my concentration. Clearly, the Lord Jesus has made no provision for any believer to stop at some predetermined point in our progression toward full maturity.

• Key N.T. ideas about looking to Christ for spiritual growth include 2 Peter 3:18, which tells us to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”, and Colossians 2:6-7, which encourages being “rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith”. Then Ephesians 4:15, instructs us to grow up in every way into Christ, who rules and guides the church as its supreme Leader. Finally, John 15:5, invites us to remain in Jesus, the true vine, to produce much fruit which brings incredible glory to God.
• Other verses echo these centering important notions (1 Jn 2:6; Gal. 2:20; Rom. 8:9; 2 Cor. 3:18; Rom. 12:1-2; Phil. 1:6; 1 Cor. 11:1; Jn. 3:30; Gal. 3:27; Jn. 15:12). So then, lingering in ‘spiritual infancy’ or carnality is not an option!

Biblically we focus on ‘transforming’ (Rom. 12:1-2) our minds and character to become more like the Lord Jesus Christ, rather than merely seeking self-fulfillment or private satisfaction. Supported by passages like Romans 12:2, true growth combines spiritual renewal with practical hand on wisdom, relying on God’s grace and discipline to mature us completely.

God Thunders These Concepts at Us Frequently to Inspire Real Growth.

• We Must Experience Mental Renewal: Changing how we think by focusing on truth and the Bible instead of worldly ideas and patterns (Romans 12:2).
• It will Require Serious Spiritual Discipline: Building our relationship with God through regular prayer, worship, and Bible studying cultivating predictability and dependability (James 4:8).
• Our Concentration must be on our Character and Virtue: Actively adding goodness, self-control, perseverance, Christian kindness, and godly love to our faith (2 Peter 1:5–8).
• We can Sustain Positive Relational Health: Practicing patience, forgiveness, and service toward other people (Colossians 3:13) as we insist on walking in the Spirit.

Always moving from self-centered achievement to Christ-like transformation, while relying more on the Holy Spirit for inner change rather than relying completely on our own willpower. The Standard is always following the model of Jesus Christ, who in His humanity grew in “wisdom (intellectually), and stature (physically), and in favour with God (spiritually)” and people (socially) (Luke 2:52).  

Of course, we will never fully arrive at the perfections of Christ Jesus in this life, but we are encouraged to always develop more like Him. We must never settle or become complacent about who we are or be satisfied with our development in godly character as this is necessary. But again, character building and spiritual maturity are both worthwhile lifelong processes for believers to grow. This is not the criteria for getting saved initially.  

Now, The Lord Desires That We Do the Difficult Work of Changing Our Beliefs and Our Behavior. God portrays spiritual growth not as an automatic process, but as intentional, disciplined hard work. The Bible compares this inner transformation to athletic training, farming, and building, requiring daily effort, perseverance through trials, and active cooperation with God's grace. God is frank and strait forward about these requirements.

Notice the Metaphors God uses to Convey this Concentrated Effort:

• The Intensity of Athletic Training: Believers are to “exercise (train) thyself rather unto godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7) and the imagery of running a race with strict discipline and self-control to remain effective for the Lord’s use is put forth (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
• The Perseverance of Farming and Harvesting: Growth demands patient labor; “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” accordingly the person who invest to please the Spirit, will from the Spirit experience more of the quality of eternal life (Galatians 6:7-9). So, keep going…investing more in spiritual ideas!
• The Focus and Collaboration of Construction with Grace: Believers are urged to focus on “building up yourselves on your most holy faith” (Jude 1:20) by actively adding virtues like goodness, knowledge, and self-control (2 Peter 1:5-8). Such active cooperation with God's grace results in meaningful change over time! 

The concentration is on number one without comparing ourselves to another person. We want to believe and do with total harmony what Jesus would believe and do were He walking in our shoes today. This is our heart-felt longing and desperate desire. Keep moving forward in Christ. Continue expanding in the greatness, depth, and wisdom of our boundless God. Never stop looking to your personal horizon, the course Jesus has set before you. Pursue upwardly to attain more Christ likeness. Yes, being a ‘student’ of Christ is extremely demanding as it was for those first ‘disciples’.