Tim Hetzner, President of Lutheran Church Charities, who normally writes the daily devotions, is out of the country right now leading a Biblical Study tour in the Middle East. While he is out, he has asked Pete Imlah on the LCC staff to cover for him. Pete is Director of Mission and Outreach at LCC.

Played: 80 | Download | Duration: 00:02:58

A Lifetime of Learning

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7

Whether you're nineteen or a hundred and nineteen, you've still got lots to learn. Even if you're very wise, God isn't finished with you yet, and He isn't finished teaching you important lessons about life here on earth and life eternal.

God does not intend for you to be a stagnant believer. Far from it! God wants you to continue growing as a person and as a follower of Jesus Christ every day that you live. And make no mistake: both spiritual and intellectual growth is possible during every stage of life.

As a follower of Christ, you have the potential to grow in your personal knowledge of the Lord every day. You can do so through prayer, through worship, through an openness to God's Holy Spirit, and through a careful study of God's Word. Your Bible contains powerful prescriptions for everyday living. The Priest Ezra was a perfect example of this: "For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel" (Ezra 7:10). When you study God's Word and live according to His will, you will become wise… and you will serve as a shining example to your friends, to your family, and to the world.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I have so much still to learn about You and Your Will. Through the work of Your Holy Spirit empower me to watch, to listen, to think and to learn. Open my eyes to the wisdom and insights Your Word has for me today and help me to live the life that would be pleasing to You. I pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen